JP2018192745A - Apparatus for forming preform, and method for forming preform - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an apparatus for forming a preform and a method for forming a preform capable of reducing the generation of wrinkles and loosenings on a fiber base material when the fiber base material is shaped.SOLUTION: An apparatus 100 for forming a preform 10 includes: a shaping mold 110 for shaping a fiber base material 11; a periphery holding part 120 for applying a pressing force on at least a part of a peripheral region 11b located on the outer edge side of a region 11a to be shaped by the shaping mold in the fiber base material, and for holding it; a tension adjusting part 140 for adjusting a tension applied to the fiber base material; and a control part 150 for controlling the operation of the shaping mold and the periphery holding part. The control part 150 controls the operation of the periphery holding part, to hold at least a part of the peripheral region of the fiber base material, and controls the operation of the shaping mold, to shape the fiber base material while maintaining the state where at least a part of the peripheral region of the fiber base material has been held. The tension adjusting part adjusts the tension applied to the fiber base material 11 when the fiber base material is shaped.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a preform molding apparatus and a preform molding method.

  In recent years, a composite material in which a fiber base material is impregnated with a resin has been used as an automobile part in order to reduce the weight of an automobile body. In the molding of a composite material, a preform in which a fiber base material is previously shaped into a predetermined shape may be molded before impregnation with a resin.

  As a method for forming a preform, a method is generally known in which a fiber base material is placed in a mold and shaped. When forming a fiber base material into a predetermined three-dimensional shape, there is a problem that wrinkles and fraying occur in the fiber base material depending on the shape to be molded.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of forming a preform using a fiber base material that is less likely to cause wrinkling and fraying by adjusting a method of knitting a knitting yarn that fixes a fiber bundle of the fiber base material. It is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-145547

  However, the fiber base material has anisotropy that the tensile strength in the fiber direction is relatively high and the tensile strength in the direction intersecting the fiber direction is relatively low. For this reason, when shaping a fiber base material into a complicated shape, if the fiber base material is shaped without considering anisotropy, the fiber base material may be wrinkled or frayed.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and when forming a fiber base material, a preform can be formed that can prevent wrinkles and fraying from occurring in the fiber base material. It is an object to provide an apparatus and a method for forming a preform.

  The preform molding apparatus according to the present invention that achieves the above object is a molding apparatus that molds a preform obtained by shaping a fiber base material into a predetermined three-dimensional shape. The molding apparatus includes a shaping die for shaping the fiber base material, and a pressing force applied to at least a part of the outer peripheral region located on the outer edge side of the region shaped by the shaping die among the fiber base material. The outer periphery holding part which provides and hold | maintains, the tension adjustment part which adjusts the tension | tensile_strength which acts on the said fiber base material, and the control part which controls the action | operation of the said shaping mold and the said outer periphery holding part. The control unit controls the operation of the shaping mold while controlling the operation of the outer peripheral holding unit to hold at least a part of the outer peripheral region and maintain at least a part of the outer peripheral region. Control to shape the fiber substrate. The tension adjusting unit adjusts a tension acting on the fiber base when shaping the fiber base.

  The preform molding method according to the present invention that achieves the above object is a molding method for molding a preform obtained by shaping a fiber substrate into a predetermined three-dimensional shape. In the molding method, a state in which at least a part of the outer peripheral region is held by applying a pressing force to at least a part of the outer peripheral region located on the outer edge side of the region to be shaped among the fiber base material. While maintaining the above, the fiber base material is shaped while adjusting the tension acting on the fiber base material.

  Since the fiber substrate is shaped while holding at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the fiber substrate, tension can be applied to the fiber substrate. Thereby, when shaping a fiber base material, since a fiber base material does not loosen, generation | occurrence | production of a wrinkle can be suppressed. Moreover, fraying of the fibers of the fiber substrate can be suppressed by adjusting the tension acting on the fiber substrate in consideration of the anisotropy of the fiber substrate. Thereby, when shape | molding a fiber base material, it can suppress that wrinkles and fraying generate | occur | produce in a fiber base material, and can improve the external appearance quality and mechanical characteristic of a preform.

It is the schematic of the shaping | molding apparatus of the fiber base material which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the fiber base material to a lower mold | type. It is a perspective view which shows a fiber base material typically. It is a flowchart which shows the shaping | molding method of the preform which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the state which has arrange | positioned the fiber base material to a shaping | molding die. It is a figure which shows typically the state holding the outer peripheral area | region of the fiber base material. It is a figure which shows typically a mode that a fiber base material is shaped. It is a figure which shows typically the state which the shaping of the fiber base material was completed. It is a figure which shows typically the demolding of a preform. It is a figure which shows typically the shaping | molding apparatus which concerns on a comparative example. It is a figure which shows typically a mode that the fiber base material was shaped with the shaping | molding apparatus which concerns on a comparative example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the following description does not limit the meaning of the technical scope and terms described in the claims. In addition, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of explanation, and may differ from actual ratios.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Composite material)
By combining the fiber base material 11 and the resin, the composite material has high strength and rigidity as compared with a molded article made of a single resin. Compared to a car body constructed by assembling parts made of steel materials by applying composite materials to, for example, frame parts such as front side members and pillars used for the body of automobiles, and outer plate parts such as roofs, The weight of the vehicle body can be reduced.

  The composite material is formed by impregnating a preform 10 in which the fiber base material 11 is shaped into a predetermined three-dimensional shape with a resin.

(preform)
The preform 10 according to the present embodiment is formed by impregnating a fiber base material 11 with an adhesive (not shown) and molding it into a predetermined shape.

  The fiber base material 11 can be formed by carbon fiber, glass fiber, organic fiber, etc., for example. In the present embodiment, an example in which carbon fiber is used as the fiber base 11 will be described. The fiber base material 11 is suitable as a fiber base material for composite materials used for automobile bodies and the like because it has a small thermal expansion coefficient, excellent dimensional stability, and little deterioration in mechanical properties even at high temperatures. Can be used for

  The fiber base material 11 is constituted by, for example, a laminated body in which a plurality of sheet-like non-crimp fabric (NCF) materials in which a plurality of fiber bundles in which fiber directions are arranged in one direction are knitted and fixed are laminated. Can do. Since the non-crimp fabric material has higher formability than a fabric material formed by weaving warp and weft, it can be suitably used for molding the preform 10 having a complicated shape.

  However, since the non-crimp fabric material has higher anisotropy than the fabric material, wrinkles and fraying are likely to occur when forming. According to the molding apparatus 100 and the molding method of the preform 10 described later, wrinkles and fraying occur when shaping by adjusting the tension acting on the fiber base material 11 in consideration of anisotropy. Can be suppressed.

  The adhesive is applied to the fiber base material 11 to bond the fiber base materials 11 to each other. Thereby, when shape | molding the fiber base material 11 in a desired shape, it plays the role which hold | maintains the form.

  The material constituting the adhesive is not particularly limited, and a known material can be used. Examples thereof include thermoplastic resins such as polyolefin resin, styrene resin, nylon resin, and polyurethane resin, and thermosetting resins such as epoxy resin, phenol resin, and unsaturated polyester resin.

(Molding equipment)
With reference to FIG. 1, the shaping | molding apparatus 100 of the preform 10 is demonstrated.

  The molding apparatus 100 includes a shaping mold 110 for shaping the fiber base material 11 and at least a part of the outer peripheral area 11b located on the outer edge side of the fiber base material 11 with respect to the area 11a shaped by the shaping mold 110. , A driving unit 130 for driving the shaping mold 110 and the outer periphery holding unit 120, a tension adjusting unit 140 for adjusting the tension acting on the fiber base material 11, and the operation of each part of the molding apparatus 100. And a control unit 150 for controlling.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of each part of the molding apparatus 100 will be described in detail.

  The shaping mold 110 shapes the fiber base material 11 into a predetermined three-dimensional shape. As shown in FIG. 1, a lower mold 111 (corresponding to a “first mold”) on which a fiber base material 11 to which an adhesive is applied is disposed, and a fiber base that is relatively close to the lower mold 111. And an upper mold 112 (corresponding to a “second mold”) for shaping the material 11.

  The lower mold 111 is a fixed mold. The lower mold 111 has a concave molding surface 111s that is recessed downward.

  The upper mold 112 is a movable mold that can move toward and away from the lower mold 111. The upper mold 112 has a convex molding surface 112 s that faces the molding surface 111 s of the lower mold 111.

  The configuration of the shaping mold 110 is not limited to this, and for example, the lower mold 111 may have a convex molding surface and the upper mold 112 may have a concave molding surface.

  The outer peripheral holding part 120 applies a pressing force F1 (see FIG. 5B) toward the lower mold 111 to the fiber base material 11 in conjunction with the operation of the lower mold 111 shaping the fiber base material 11, and the fibers Of the base material 11, at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11 b located on the outer edge side of the region 11 a shaped by the shaping mold 110 is held.

  The drive unit 130 includes an elevator 131 and a pressurizing device 132. The elevator 131 is connected to the upper mold 112 and the outer periphery holding part 120 of the shaping mold 110 to move the upper mold 112 and the outer periphery holding part 120 closer to and away from the lower mold 111. The pressurizing device 132 pressurizes the outer peripheral holding part 120 in the direction toward the lower mold 111 in a state where the outer peripheral holding part 120 approaches the lower mold 111. Thereby, the outer periphery holding | maintenance part 120 can give the pressing force F1 which goes to the lower mold | type 111 with respect to the fiber base material 11. FIG.

  The elevator 131 and the pressurizing device 132 include, for example, a hydraulic cylinder and the like, and by controlling the hydraulic pressure and the like, the clamping pressure of the shaping mold 110 and the pressing force F1 that the outer peripheral holding unit 120 applies to the fiber base material 11 are applied. adjust.

  The pressing force F1 applied to the fiber base material 11 by the outer periphery holding unit 120 is preferably set to a relatively low load, and can be set to 150 kPa or less, for example. Thereby, since the inflow of the fiber base material 11 into the shaping mold | type 110 can be permitted when shaping the fiber base material 11, the fiber base material 11 can be shaped in a desired three-dimensional shape. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tension adjusting unit 140 applies a reaction force F <b> 2 (see FIG. 5B) to the pressing force F <b> 1 that the outer peripheral holding unit 120 applies to the fiber base material 11 to the outer peripheral holding unit 120. A plurality of reaction force application units 141 are provided.

  The reaction force applying unit 141 adjusts the strength with which the outer periphery holding unit 120 holds the fiber substrate 11 by adjusting the magnitude of the reaction force F2 with respect to the pressing force F1 applied to the fiber substrate 11 by the outer periphery holding unit 120. can do. Thereby, when shaping the fiber base material 11, the inflow amount of the fiber base material 11 into the shaping mold 110 can be adjusted. In the portion where the inflow amount of the fiber base material 11 is relatively high, the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 is relatively high, and conversely, in the portion where the inflow amount of the fiber base material 11 is relatively low, The acting tension T is relatively low. In this way, the reaction force application unit 141 can adjust the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11.

  The reaction force application unit 141 is configured by an elastic member or a cylinder (not shown). When a force is applied to the elastic member and the cylinder in a compressing direction, a reaction force is generated in the extending direction. Utilizing this, the reaction force applying unit 141 applies a reaction force F <b> 2 to the pressing force F <b> 1 that the outer peripheral holding unit 120 applies to the fiber base material 11 to the outer peripheral holding unit 120. Since the reaction force applying unit 141 can have a simple structure using an elastic body or a cylinder, the manufacturing cost of the molding apparatus 100 can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the reaction force application unit 141 is configured by a coiled spring that is an elastic member, as shown in FIG. The reaction force application unit 141 can adjust the magnitude of the reaction force F2, for example, by adjusting the length of the spring, the spring constant, and the like.

  In addition, when the reaction force provision part 141 is comprised with a cylinder, the magnitude | size of the reaction force F2 of the tension adjustment part 140 can be adjusted by adjusting the pressure in a cylinder.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of reaction force applying portions 141 include a plurality of upper surfaces 111 a of the lower mold 111 so as to correspond to the divided regions 11 c obtained by dividing at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11 b of the fiber base material 11. Are arranged for each area (area divided by a broken line). In addition, the plurality of reaction force applying portions 141 adjust the length of the spring and the spring constant so that the magnitude of the reaction force F2 can be adjusted independently. FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram for explaining the configuration of the present embodiment, and is not limited to the illustrated configuration. The shape of the lower mold 111, the arrangement of the reaction force applying portion 141, the position and size of the divided region 11c, and the like can be appropriately adjusted according to the configuration of the fiber base 11 and the shape of the preform 10.

  When the outer periphery holding part 120 approaches the lower mold 111, the plurality of reaction force applying parts 141 come into contact with the outer periphery holding part 120, respectively. When the outer periphery holding part 120 further approaches the lower mold 111, a reaction force F2 is generated on the outer periphery holding part 120, respectively.

  With the above-described configuration, the tension adjusting unit 140 adjusts the pressing force F1 applied to the divided region 11c obtained by dividing the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 into a plurality of divided regions 11c for each divided region 11c. .

  With reference to FIG. 3, the fiber base material 11 has anisotropy that the tensile strength in the fiber direction A is relatively high and the tensile strength in the direction B intersecting the fiber direction A is relatively low. Therefore, when the tension T is applied to the fiber base 11 in the direction B intersecting the fiber direction A, the fiber orientation is disturbed in the direction in which the fibers are separated from each other, and the fibers are easily frayed. Therefore, the inflow amount of the fiber base material 11 into the shaping mold 110 is made relatively high in the direction B intersecting the fiber direction A where the fiber base material 11 is easily frayed, and acts in the direction B intersecting the fiber direction A. By making the tension T relatively low, it is possible to prevent the fiber base material 11 from fraying.

  In general, the fraying phenomenon of the fiber propagates to the inner layer due to the fraying of the fiber generated in the outermost layer 11t of the fiber base 11. Therefore, if the fraying of the fiber of the outermost layer 11t of the fiber base material 11 can be suppressed, the fraying of the fiber base material 11 can be suppressed.

  From the above viewpoint, in the present embodiment, the tension adjusting unit 140 has the tension T acting on the fiber base 11 more than the tension T acting on the fiber direction A of the fibers arranged on the outermost layer 11t of the fiber base 11. Also, the tension T acting in the direction B intersecting the fiber direction A is adjusted to be lower. Thereby, it can suppress that fraying generate | occur | produces in the outermost layer 11t of the fiber base material 11. FIG. As a result, fraying on the fiber base 11 can be suppressed.

  The control unit 150 controls the overall operation of the molding apparatus 100. Specifically, referring to FIG. 1, control unit 150 transmits / receives various data and control commands to / from storage unit 151 composed of ROM and RAM, and arithmetic unit 152 composed mainly of CPU. An input / output unit 153. The input / output unit 153 is connected to the shaping mold 110 and the outer periphery holding unit 120.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 150 is connected to the shaping mold 110 and the outer periphery holding unit 120 via the driving unit 130 and controls the operation of the driving unit 130 to thereby control the shaping mold 110 and the outer periphery holding unit. The operation of 120 is controlled.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the tension adjusting unit 140 can adjust the magnitude of the reaction force F2 by adjusting the spring length, the spring constant, and the like of the reaction force applying unit 141 configured by a spring. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the tension adjustment unit 140 is not controlled by the control unit 150, but may be configured to be controlled by the control unit 150. For example, when the reaction force application unit 141 is configured by a cylinder, the control unit 150 can adjust the reaction force F2 applied by the reaction force application unit 141 by controlling the pressure in the cylinder.

(Molding method)
Next, a method for forming the preform 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the molding method of the preform 10, the fiber base material 11 is disposed on the lower mold 111 (step S <b> 1), and the fiber base material 11 is positioned on the outer edge side of the region 11 a to be shaped. At least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b is held (step S2). And the fiber base material 11 is shaped, maintaining the state which hold | maintained at least one part of the outer peripheral area | region 11b of the fiber base material 11 (process S3), and the molded preform 10 is demolded from the shaping die 110. (Step S4).

  Hereinafter, each process of the molding method of the preform 10 will be described in detail.

  In step S1, the fiber base material 11 is disposed on the lower mold 111 of the shaping mold 110 as shown in FIG. 5A.

  In step S <b> 2, as shown in FIG. 5B, the outer periphery holding part 120 is approached toward the lower mold 111, and at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11 b of the fiber base material 11 is sandwiched between the lower mold 111. Furthermore, the outer periphery holding part 120 is pressurized in a direction toward the lower mold 111 (the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 5B) to apply a pressing force F <b> 1 to the fiber base material 11. Thereby, at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11 b of the fiber base material 11 is sandwiched and held between the outer peripheral holding part 120 and the lower mold 111.

  In step S3, as shown in FIG. 5C, the upper die 112 is brought closer to the lower die 111 while maintaining at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber substrate 11, and the fiber substrate 11 The region 11a to be shaped is pressed downward. Thereby, tension T is applied to the fiber base 11 in the direction from the shaping region 11a toward the outer peripheral region 11b. When the fiber base material 11 is shaped, the fiber base material 11 does not loosen due to the tension T acting. For this reason, as shown to FIG. 5D, after forming the fiber base material 11, it can suppress that a wrinkle generate | occur | produces in the fiber base material 11. FIG.

  Moreover, when shaping the fiber base material 11, the outer periphery holding | maintenance part 120 divided | segmented at least one part of the outer periphery area | region 11b of the fiber base material 11 into plurality by the tension adjustment part 140 (refer FIG. 2). The pressing force F1 to be applied to is adjusted for each divided region 11c. Thereby, the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 intersects the fiber direction more than the tension T acting on the fiber direction A of the fiber disposed on the outermost layer 11t (see FIG. 3) of the fiber base material 11. The tension T acting in the direction (direction in which the fiber base material 11 is easily frayed) can be adjusted to be lower. Therefore, it is possible to suppress fraying from occurring on the outermost surface layer 11t of the fiber base material 11. As a result, fraying on the fiber base 11 can be suppressed.

  In step S4, as shown in FIG. 5E, when the shaping mold 110 is opened and the preform 10 is removed from the shaping mold 110, the molding of the preform 10 is completed.

  For example, unlike the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the fiber base material 11 is shaped by the shaping mold 110 without holding the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11, as shown in FIG. 6B. The fiber base material 11 excessively flows into the shaping mold 110 and wrinkles occur in the fiber base material 11.

  Further, the fiber base 11 has anisotropy that the tensile strength in the fiber direction A is relatively high and the tensile strength in the direction B intersecting the fiber direction A is relatively low. For this reason, in order to suppress generation | occurrence | production of wrinkles, the fiber base material 11 is provided in the state which gave and hold | maintained the high pressing force to the outer peripheral area | region 11b of the fiber base material 11, without considering the anisotropy of the fiber base material 11. When it is shaped, fraying occurs in the fiber base material 11.

  On the other hand, the tension T can be applied to the fiber base 11 by shaping the fiber base 11 while holding at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base 11 as in the present embodiment. Thereby, since the fiber base material 11 does not loosen when shaping the fiber base material 11, generation | occurrence | production of a wrinkle can be suppressed. Further, by adjusting the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11, fraying of the fibers of the fiber base material 11 can be suppressed.

  As described above, the preform 10 molding apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is a molding apparatus that molds the preform 10 in which the fiber base material 11 is shaped into a predetermined three-dimensional shape. The molding apparatus 100 includes at least one of a shaping mold 110 for shaping the fiber base material 11 and an outer peripheral area 11b located on the outer edge side of the fiber base material 11 from the area 11a shaped by the shaping mold 110. Control for controlling the operation of the shaping mold 110 and the outer peripheral holding part 120, the outer peripheral holding part 120 for applying and holding the pressing force F 1 to the part, the tension adjusting part 140 for adjusting the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 Part 150. The control unit 150 controls the operation of the outer peripheral holding unit 120 to hold at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 and maintain a state in which at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 is held. As it is, the fiber base 11 is shaped by controlling the operation of the shaping mold 110. The tension adjusting unit 140 adjusts the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 when shaping the fiber base material 11.

  Moreover, the shaping | molding method of the preform 10 which concerns on this embodiment is a shaping | molding method which shape | molds the preform 10 which shape | molded the fiber base material 11 in the predetermined | prescribed three-dimensional shape. In the molding method, a pressing force is applied to and held in at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b located on the outer edge side of the region 11a to be shaped of the fiber base material 11, and the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 is retained. The fiber base material 11 is shaped while adjusting the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 while maintaining at least a part of the state.

  According to the preform 10 forming apparatus 100 and the preform 10 forming method configured as described above, the fiber base material 11 is shaped while holding at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11, A tension T can be applied to the fiber substrate 11. Thereby, since the fiber base material 11 does not loosen when shaping the fiber base material 11, generation | occurrence | production of a wrinkle can be suppressed. Further, by adjusting the tension T acting on the fiber substrate 11 in consideration of the anisotropy of the fiber substrate 11, fraying of the fibers of the fiber substrate 11 can be suppressed. Thereby, when shaping the fiber base material 11, it can suppress that wrinkles and fraying generate | occur | produce in the fiber base material 11, and can improve the external appearance quality and mechanical characteristic of a preform.

  Moreover, the tension adjusting unit 140 adjusts the pressing force F1 applied to the divided region 11c obtained by dividing the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 into a plurality of divided regions 11c for each divided region 11c. As a result, a relatively high tension T acts in the direction of extending the wrinkles in the part where the wrinkles of the fiber base material 11 tend to occur, and the part of the fiber base material 11 where the wrinkles tend to occur is relatively low in the direction of easy fraying. The tension T can be adjusted to act. As a result, the occurrence of wrinkles and fraying on the fiber base 11 can be suppressed.

  The shaping mold 110 includes a lower mold 111 (first mold) on which the fiber base material 11 is disposed and an upper mold 112 that shapes the fiber base material 11 relatively close to the lower mold 111. (Second mold). The outer periphery holding unit 120 applies a pressing force F <b> 1 toward the lower mold 111 to the fiber base material 11 in conjunction with the operation in which the lower mold 111 shapes the fiber base material 11. 11b is held at least partially. Since the operation of the lower mold 111 and the operation of the outer periphery holding unit 120 are interlocked, the lower mold 111 and the outer periphery holding unit 120 can be driven by the same driving unit 130. Thereby, since the structure of the shaping die 110 and the outer periphery holding | maintenance part 120 can be simplified, the manufacturing cost of the shaping | molding apparatus 100 can be reduced.

  In addition, the tension adjusting unit 140 includes a reaction force applying unit 141 that applies a reaction force F <b> 2 to the pressing force F <b> 1 that the outer peripheral holding unit 120 applies to the fiber base material 11 to the outer peripheral holding unit 120. The reaction force applying unit 141 can adjust the strength with which the outer periphery holding unit 120 holds the fiber substrate 11 by adjusting the pressing force F <b> 1 that the outer periphery holding unit 120 applies to the fiber substrate 11. Thereby, when shaping | molding the fiber base material 11, the inflow amount into the shaping type | mold 110 of the fiber base material 11 can be adjusted. In the portion where the inflow amount of the fiber base material 11 is relatively high, the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 is relatively high, and conversely, in the portion where the inflow amount of the fiber base material 11 is relatively low, The acting tension T is relatively low. Therefore, the tension adjusting unit 140 can adjust the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 by adjusting the inflow amount of the fiber base material 11. As a result, for example, the fiber base material 11 can be allowed to flow in a direction in which the fiber base material 11 is easily frayed, and fraying can be suppressed.

  The reaction force application unit 141 includes an elastic body or a cylinder. Since the reaction force applying unit 141 can have a simple structure using an elastic body or a cylinder, the manufacturing cost of the molding apparatus 100 can be reduced.

  Further, the tension adjusting unit 140 is a direction in which the tension T acting on the fiber base 11 intersects the fiber direction more than the tension T acting on the fiber direction A of the fiber arranged on the outermost layer 11t of the fiber base 11. Adjust so that the tension acting on is lower. Thereby, it can suppress that fraying generate | occur | produces in the outermost layer 11t of the fiber base material 11. FIG. As a result, fraying on the fiber base 11 can be suppressed.

  The fiber base material 11 has a non-crimp fabric material in which a plurality of fiber bundles in which the fiber direction A is arranged in one direction are knitted and fixed with a knitting yarn. Since the non-crimp fabric material has higher formability than the woven material, it can be suitably used for molding a preform having a complicated shape. In addition, since the non-crimp fabric material has higher anisotropy than the woven material, the effect of the present invention is more effective by adjusting the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 in consideration of the anisotropy. Can be demonstrated.

  As described above, the preform molding apparatus and the preform molding method have been described through the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited only to the configuration described in the embodiments, and may be appropriately changed based on the description of the claims. Is possible.

  For example, the tension adjusting unit is not limited to the configuration described in the above-described embodiment as long as the tension acting on the fiber substrate can be adjusted.

  Further, a plurality of outer periphery holding portions may be arranged for each divided region of the fiber base material. Thereby, the pressing force which an outer periphery holding part provides to a fiber base material can be adjusted for every division area.

  In addition, the fiber base material is not limited to the configuration described in the above-described embodiment. For example, the fiber base material may be formed of a woven material. Moreover, although the fiber base material was comprised with the laminated body which laminated | stacked multiple sheet-like base materials, you may comprise with one base material.

10 preform,
11 Fiber substrate,
11a The area where the fiber substrate is shaped,
11b outer peripheral area,
11c The divided region of the fiber substrate,
11t outermost layer of fiber substrate,
100 molding equipment,
110 Shaped mold,
111 Lower mold (first mold),
112 Upper mold (second mold),
120 outer periphery holding part,
130 drive unit,
140 tension adjuster,
141 reaction force application section,
150 control unit,
F1 pressing force,
F2 reaction force,
T tension,
A Fiber direction,
B Direction that intersects the fiber direction.

Claims (14)

There is a molding apparatus for molding a preform formed from a fiber base material into a predetermined three-dimensional shape,
A shaping mold for shaping the fiber substrate;
Of the fiber base material, an outer peripheral holding portion that applies and holds a pressing force to at least a part of the outer peripheral region located on the outer edge side of the region formed by the shaping mold, and
A tension adjusting unit for adjusting the tension acting on the fiber substrate;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the shaping mold and the outer periphery holding unit,
The controller is
Controlling the operation of the outer periphery holding portion, holding at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the fiber base material,
While maintaining the state of holding at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the fiber substrate, controlling the operation of the shaping mold, shaping the fiber substrate,
The said tension adjustment part is a preform shaping apparatus which adjusts the tension | tensile_strength which acts on the said fiber base material when shaping the said fiber base material.   The said tension adjustment part adjusts the pressing force which the said outer periphery holding | maintenance part provides to the division area which divided | segmented at least one part of the said outer periphery area | region of the said fiber base material into every several division area. Preform forming equipment. The shaping mold includes a first mold in which the fiber base material is disposed and a second mold that shapes the fiber base material relatively close to the first mold. And
The outer periphery holding portion applies a pressing force toward the first mold to the fiber base material in conjunction with the operation of the first mold shaping the fiber base material, and the fiber base material. The preform molding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the outer peripheral area of the preform is held.   The tension adjusting unit has a plurality of reaction force applying units that apply a reaction force to the pressing force that the outer peripheral holding unit applies to the fiber base material to the outer peripheral holding unit. The shaping | molding apparatus of any one.   The preform forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the reaction force applying unit includes an elastic body or a cylinder.   The tension adjusting unit has a tension that acts on the fiber base in a direction that intersects the fiber direction, rather than a tension that acts on the fiber direction of the fiber disposed on the outermost layer of the fiber base. The preform molding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the preform is adjusted to be lower.   The fiber base material according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fiber base material includes a non-crimp fabric material in which a plurality of fiber bundles in which fiber directions are arranged in one direction are knitted and fixed. Reform molding equipment. A molding method for molding a preform obtained by shaping a fiber base material into a predetermined three-dimensional shape,
Of the fiber base material, a pressing force is applied to and held at least a part of the outer peripheral region located on the outer edge side of the region to be shaped,
A preform molding method, wherein the fiber base is shaped while adjusting a tension acting on the fiber base while maintaining at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the fiber base.   9. The pressing force applied to a divided region obtained by dividing at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the fiber substrate into a plurality of divided regions when the fiber substrate is shaped is adjusted for each of the divided regions. Preform molding method.   In combination with an operation of shaping the fiber base material, a pressing force is applied to the fiber base material to hold at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the fiber base material. The preform molding method as described in 1. above.   The preform molding method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein a reaction force against a pressing force applied to the fiber base material is applied when adjusting a tension acting on the fiber base material. .   The preform molding method according to claim 11, wherein a reaction force against a pressing force applied to the fiber substrate is applied by an elastic body or a cylinder.   When adjusting the tension acting on the fiber substrate, the tension acting on the fiber substrate is more in the fiber direction than the tension acting in the fiber direction of the fibers arranged on the outermost layer of the fiber substrate. The preform molding method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the tension is adjusted so that the tension acting in the intersecting direction is lower.   The fiber base material according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the fiber base material includes a non-crimp fabric material in which a plurality of fiber bundles in which fiber directions are arranged in one direction are knitted and fixed. Reform molding method.