JP6744043B2 - Heating device for thermoplastic carbon fiber materials - Google Patents

Description

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

In recent years, carbon fiber materials containing carbon fibers have become popular. The carbon fiber material includes a thermosetting carbon fiber material that uses a resin that is hardened by firing and a thermoplastic carbon fiber material that uses a resin that softens when heated. Most of the carbon fiber materials currently in widespread use are thermosetting carbon fiber materials, but thermosetting carbon fiber materials are difficult to dispose of, and have been widely used in the past for processing metal materials. Since it is formed by a method completely different from the press forming, there are various problems that it is not easy to apply it as a substitute material for the member produced by the press forming. Therefore, recently, attention has been paid to a thermoplastic carbon fiber material that can be easily disposed of and easily press-molded. The thermoplastic carbon fiber material is heated during press molding. Devices for heating articles are used, for example, in food and drink and various other 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 in a heated state, the pressing force required for the press machine is large. Further, the carbon fiber material, regardless of whether it is a thermosetting material or a thermoplastic material, is much more expensive than a material such as iron. Therefore, when pressing the thermoplastic carbon fiber material, it is required to bring the thermoplastic carbon fiber material to an appropriate temperature. Therefore, it is required to convey the thermoplastic carbon fiber material from the heating furnace that heats it to the press machine as quickly as possible. Accurate positioning and mounting on a press is not easy.

Therefore, the present application discloses a thermoplastic carbon fiber material conveying device capable of accurately positioning a sheet-shaped thermoplastic carbon fiber material that has been heated and is in a flexible state on a press machine.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a stopper mechanism arranged in the vicinity of a press machine, a thermoplastic carbon fiber material fed from a belt conveyor that conveys a sheet-shaped thermoplastic carbon fiber material heated in a heating furnace. A contact portion with which the end portion of the belt conveyor abuts, and a grip portion for gripping the end portion are provided, and the downstream end of the belt conveyor is inclined so that the belt conveyor folds toward the contact portion. We decided to provide a variable angle mechanism.

More specifically, the present invention is a carrier device for thermoplastic carbon fiber material, comprising a belt conveyor on which a sheet-like thermoplastic carbon fiber material fed from a heating furnace is placed, and a press machine arranged on the downstream side of the belt conveyor. Is a stopper mechanism disposed near the end of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material fed from the belt conveyor, and an end portion of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material positioned on the press machine by the contact portion. A stopper mechanism having a gripping portion for gripping, and an angle varying mechanism for inclining the downstream end of the belt conveyor so as to fold down toward the contact portion,
When the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is fed from the heating furnace, the belt conveyor is moved or extended so that the downstream end of the belt conveyor extends to the stopper mechanism side, and then the downstream end of the belt conveyor is angled. After tilting with a variable mechanism, the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is fed from the downstream end of the belt conveyor and the end of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is held by the stopper, and then the angle of the downstream end of the belt conveyor is changed. A control device that moves or contracts the belt conveyor while keeping it tilted by the mechanism to return the downstream end of the belt conveyor to the upstream side of the belt conveyor.

If it is the above-mentioned heating device for thermoplastic carbon fiber material, it is possible to convey the heated thermoplastic carbon fiber material to the pressing machine as quickly as possible, and it is a sheet shape that is heated and is in a flexible state. The thermoplastic carbon fiber material can be positioned at an appropriate place on the press machine by the cooperation of the angle varying mechanism and the stopper mechanism.

The stopper mechanism described above includes a receiving plate that receives the end of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material that is fed from the end on the downstream side of the belt conveyor, and an expansion/contraction device that moves the grip portion in and out toward the upper surface of the receiving plate. You may have. If the above-mentioned heating device for thermoplastic carbon fiber material is configured in this way, even a sheet-like thermoplastic carbon fiber material in a flexible state will be placed on the receiving plate, so the gripping part by the expansion/contraction device The thermoplastic carbon fiber material can be properly gripped simply by taking in and out.

Further, the above stopper mechanism may have a plurality of stoppers each having a contact portion and a grip portion along the lateral direction with respect to the conveyance direction of the belt conveyor. If the above-described heating device for thermoplastic carbon fiber material is configured in this way, even in the sheet-like thermoplastic carbon fiber material in a flexible state, the traveling direction side of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material Since the end portion of is pressed at a plurality of points, the yield of the press can be improved.

Further, the stopper mechanism further includes a deviation prevention member that comes into contact with the edge of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material gripped by the grip portion, and the control device sets the gripping state of the stopper that grips the end portion of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material. When releasing, the gripping part and the contact part are separated from the thermoplastic carbon fiber material while maintaining the state in which the slip prevention member is in contact with the edge of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material, and then the slip prevention member is attached to the edge of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material. The stopper mechanism may be caused to perform the operation of separating from. If the above-described heating device for thermoplastic carbon fiber material is configured in this way, even if the surface of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material becomes sticky due to heating, the stopper mechanism grips the thermoplastic carbon fiber material. It is possible to reduce the possibility that the position of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material shifts when the state is released.

With the above-described heating device for thermoplastic carbon fiber material, even a sheet-like thermoplastic carbon fiber material that has been heated and is in a flexible state can be accurately positioned in the pressing machine.

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

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiment described below is one aspect of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram 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 transfer device 3 that transfers the thermoplastic carbon fiber material sent 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 on it. The heating system 1 is a system for heating a sheet-like thermoplastic carbon fiber material having a width and a length of about 1 meter, and can press various members such as an automobile bonnet and a door. Has a size.

The heating device 2 includes a heating furnace 4 having a built-in heater, and a conveyor 5 that conveys the 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. Is. Further, 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 is provided. The material is conveyed to the third region 26R3 where the press machine 100 is located.

It is preferable that the conveyor 5 of the heating device 2 uses a wire-mesh-shaped belt that does not hinder the radiation of heat from the lower side to the upper side of the conveyor 5, and for example, a so-called chocolate net that is frequently used in a conveyor that handles food is suitable. Is. A frame 8 (which is an example of the “positioning member” in the present application) that defines the placement position of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is attached to the first region 26R1 of the conveyor 5. The frame 8 has an inner size according to 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. It The control device that controls the conveyors 5 and 6 moves the conveyors 5 and 6 according to the specified control amount. Therefore, when the control device moves the conveyors 5 and 6 according to the specified control amount, the frame 8 causes the thermoplastic carbon fiber material to move. The position where the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is to be placed is defined in the first region 26R1 so as to be the specified position in the second region 26R2 and the third region 26R3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between the conveyor 5 of the heating device 2 and the heater. As shown in FIG. 2, a heater group 9 in which a large number of rod-shaped 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 by 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 the heat in the heating furnace 4 from leaking at the entrance and exit of the heating furnace 4 where the thermoplastic carbon fiber material enters and exits.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal structure of the heating furnace 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the heater group 9 arranged inside the heating furnace 4 is composed of 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 transport path of the conveyor 5. Note that in FIG. 3, 12 heaters 10 are drawn on the upper side and the lower side of the conveyor 5 in order to prevent the drawing from becoming unclear, but in the heating system 1 of the present embodiment, as will be 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 above and below the heater group 9 so that the infrared rays emitted from the heater 10 hit the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W of the conveyor 5. The reflecting mirrors 11 and 12 are formed of corrugated plate materials that corrugate along the heaters 10 arranged in parallel with each other so that infrared rays radially emitted from the rod-shaped heater 10 are reflected toward the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W. ing. Of the two reflecting mirrors 11 and 12 arranged on the upper side and the lower side of the conveyor 5, respectively, the center of the reflecting mirror 12 arranged on the upper side of the conveyor 5 is measured by a radiation thermometer on the surface of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W. An opening 13 is provided for measuring the temperature.

FIG. 4 is a diagram 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 kinds of heating elements so that the radiation amount of mid-infrared rays radiated near the entrance of the heating furnace 4 which is easily exposed to the outside air is higher than that near the central portion of the heating furnace 4, and is made of different materials. The rods are joined together to form one rod. That is, the heater 10 is divided into three sections, that is, the central section 14 and the outer sections 15 and 16, and the heating elements in the outer sections 15 and 16 have a higher heat amount than the heating elements in the central section 14 (for example, 20%. Degree) is configured to emit. The heating elements of the central section 14 and the heating elements of the outer sections 15, 16 are joined in series, and one heating element is formed in appearance. When it is desired to increase the temperature uniformity of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W, far infrared rays are generally preferable to mid infrared rays. However, the heater that emits far infrared rays has a longer temperature rising time than the heater that emits mid infrared rays. Therefore, if a heater that emits far infrared rays is used, it is difficult to adjust the temperature by on/off control. Therefore, in this embodiment, the heater 10 that emits mid-infrared rays is used.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a control method of the heater 10. As described above, the heater group 9 is composed of a total of 48 heaters 10 arranged on the upper side and the lower side of the conveyor 5 by 24 heaters. The heating system 1 has three heaters 10 corresponding to each phase of the distribution line drawn into various factories as one group, and 48 heaters 10 are divided into 16 groups (Gr1 to 16) to turn on and off. 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 control of each heater 10 is premised on the on/off control in which one cycle is, for example, 2 seconds, and is the time to turn on the heater 10 during one cycle (hereinafter, simply “on time”). That is) is set individually for each group. For example, infrared rays radiated from the heater 10 above the conveyor 5 are radiated to the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W without being blocked by the conveyor 5 like infrared rays radiated from the heater 10 below the conveyor 5. It Therefore, the on-time of the group (Gr1 to 8) having the heater 10 below it on the conveyor 5 is, for example, smaller than the on-time of the group (Gr9 to 16) having the heater 10 below it on the conveyor 5 Set to a short time. Further, the on-time of the groups (for example, Gr1, 8, 9, 16) located on both sides of the conveyor 5 that are more likely to radiate heat to the surroundings than the central part of the conveyor 5 is, for example, other groups on the central part side. It is set to a time shorter than the on time of. 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 conducts electricity in 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 showing a positional relationship among the conveyor 6 of the transport device 3, the press machine 100, and the stopper mechanism 7. As shown in FIG. 6, the transfer device 3 realizes a transfer path that passes between an upper mold (upper mold) and a lower mold (lower mold) provided in the press machine 100. It is a device and is arranged adjacent to the downstream side of the conveyor 5 of the heating device 2 so that the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W fed from the heating furnace 4 is placed on the conveyor 6. Further, the stopper mechanism 7 is arranged near the press machine 100 arranged on the downstream side of the conveyor 6.

Like the conveyor 5 of the heating device 2, the conveyor 6 preferably uses a wire mesh belt having a small contact area with the heated thermoplastic carbon fiber material W, for example, a so-called chocolate net is suitable. In the conveyor 6, a belt extending 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 forms a conveyance path for conveying the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W. Form. The circumference 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 that is routed around is laid 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 to the stopper mechanism 7 side or returns it to the original position according to 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 side, an amount corresponding to the distance between the first roller 17R1 and the second roller 17R2 that increases with the movement of the second roller 17R2. The belt is supplemented by a belt corresponding to the distance between the third roller 17R3 and the fourth roller 17R4, which decreases with the movement of the third roller 17R3. However, since the belt itself of the conveyor 6 is also rotated by a driving device (not shown) while the roller moving mechanism 27 is in operation, strictly speaking, the third roller 17R3 and the fourth roller 17R4 are before and after the operation of the roller moving mechanism 27. The belt stretched between and does not move between the first roller 17R1 and the second roller 17R2.

Further, the conveying device 3 is provided with an angle changing mechanism 18 for inclining the belt end portion on the stopper mechanism 7 side obliquely downward. The angle varying mechanism 18 has the second roller 17R2 centered around the fifth roller 17R5 so that the belt end portion folds down around the fifth roller 17R5 disposed slightly closer to the heating device 2 than the second roller 17R2. Is a mechanism for rotating and moving. Although various mechanisms such as an electric motor and an air cylinder can be applied as the drive mechanism of the angle varying mechanism 18, an electric motor is preferable because an appropriate operating speed can be realized.

FIG. 7 is a diagram 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 on the traveling direction side rests, and an expansion/contraction device 21 for moving the grip 20 in and out toward the upper surface of the receiving plate 19. Further, the stopper mechanism 7 includes a deviation prevention member 28. The receiving plate 19 is fixed to a column 23 (which is an example of the “contact part” in the present application) with which the end of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W comes into contact. Although the stopper mechanism 7 including the three stoppers 22 is illustrated in FIG. 7, the stopper mechanism 7 may include two or less stoppers 22 or four or more stoppers 22. It may be provided. Further, the stopper mechanism 7 moves the stoppers 24 on which the stoppers 22 are mounted, the mounts 29 on which the deviation preventing members 28 are mounted, and the mounts 24 and 29 which are independently moved back and forth along the conveying direction of the conveyor 6. And a slide device 25. The telescopic device 21 and the slide device 25 operate according to an instruction from a controller (not shown).

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view of the stopper mechanism 7. In the stopper mechanism 7, normally, the expansion/contraction device 21 is contracted, the grip 20 is raised, and the slide device 25 is in a state of bringing the gantry 24 close to the press machine 100 side (see FIG. 8A). ). Then, the end of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W conveyed by the conveyor 6 from the heating device 2 to the pressing machine 100 on the traveling direction side enters between the receiving plate 19 and the grip 20, and the end is attached to the column 23. The telescopic device 21 extends at the timing of contact, and the grip 20 presses the end against the receiving plate 19 (see FIG. 8B). As a result, the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is held by each stopper 22. Then, when the transfer by the conveyer 6 is completed while the stoppers 22 hold the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W and the belt of the conveyer 6 is retracted from the press machine 100, the expander/contractor 21 contracts and the grip 20 heats. It is separated from the plastic carbon fiber material W (see FIG. 8C). As a result, the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is in a state in which the gripping by each stopper 22 is released. When the holding by each stopper 22 is released, the slide device 25 moves only the gantry 24 to the opposite side of the press machine 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 displacement 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 displaced. Is prevented. Next, the slide device 25 moves the gantry 29 together with the gantry 24, and separates the deviation prevention member 28 and each stopper 22 from the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W (see FIG. 8E).

The heating device 2 and the transport device 3 described above operate upon receiving a control signal from the control device, which is output according to a sequence in which the operation pattern of each device is specified 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 preset in the control device to move the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W to a specified position.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the movement of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W in the heating system 1. That is, when the heating system 1 receives the heating start operation performed by the operator after the unheated thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is mounted on the first region 26R1 of the conveyor 5, the heating system 1 operates the conveyor 5 to operate the thermoplastic carbon fiber material. W is carried into the heating furnace 4 (FIG. 9(A)→(B)). Then, the heating system 1 energizes the heater group 9 to heat the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W, and then operates the conveyor 5 and the conveyor 6 to convey the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W to the 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 located between the receiving plate 19 of the stopper 22 and the grip 20. The angle varying mechanism 18 is operated at an appropriate timing so as to be folded toward (FIG. 9(B)→(C)). Then, the conveyor 6 is stopped at the timing when the end of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W on the advancing direction side comes into contact with the support column 23, and the expansion/contraction device 21 is extended to grip the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W with the stopper 22 (FIG. 9(C)→(D)). In the heating system 1, after the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is gripped by the stopper 22, the conveyor 6 and the roller moving mechanism 27 are operated again to shrink the conveyor 6 toward the heating device 2 side (FIG. 9(D)→(E). )). Since the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is heated and is in a flexible state, it is in a state of being covered with the lower mold of the press machine 100. When the heating system 1 contracts the conveyor 6 toward the heating device 2, the heating system 1 stops the conveyor 6 and the roller moving mechanism 27, operates the angle varying mechanism 18, and restores the angle of the downstream end of the conveyor 6. Further, the heating system 1 releases the holding by the stopper 22 and moves the stopper 22 to the opposite side of the press machine 100 (FIG. 9(E)→(F)).

FIG. 10 is a first diagram showing the state of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W in the vicinity of the press 100. The heating system 1 operates the angle varying mechanism 18 at an appropriate timing so that the downstream end of the conveyor 6 is folded down between the receiving plate 19 and the grip 20 of the stopper 22, and then the thermoplastic The conveyor 6 is stopped at the timing when the end of the carbon fiber material W on the traveling direction side contacts the support column 23 (FIG. 10(A)→(B)). Then, in the heating system 1, the expansion device 21 is extended, the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is held by the stopper 22, and the conveyor 6 and the roller moving mechanism 27 are operated again to contract the conveyor 6 to the heating device 2 side (Fig. 10 (B) → (C
)).

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

In the heating system 1 described above, the rod-shaped heaters 10 are arranged in parallel in the heating furnace 4, which is a simpler structure than that in which the heaters are arranged in a matrix, but both ends generate more heat than the central part. Since the rod-shaped heater 10 divided in this way is used, even a relatively large sheet-shaped 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 thermoplastic carbon fiber material W to an appropriate temperature while suppressing variations in temperature distribution, and improve the press yield in the press machine 100. You can

Further, in the above heating system 1, 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 pressing machine 100 as quickly as possible, and the heating The sheet-like thermoplastic carbon fiber material W which is in a flexible state is positioned in an appropriate place of the press 100 by the cooperation of the angle varying mechanism 18 and the stopper 22. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the molding failure due to the positional deviation of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W in the pressing machine 100 and improve the yield of pressing in the pressing machine 100.

The position and size of the frame 8 and the position of each stopper 22 are preferably adjusted appropriately according to the size and shape of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing how the lateral position of the stopper 22 is adjusted. 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 the stopper 22 along a groove provided in the gantry 24. When the stopper mechanism 7 is provided with 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 preferably fixed near the corner of the material W. Since the conveyors 5 and 6 only move the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W along the traveling direction, the positional relationship in the lateral direction with respect to the traveling direction is determined by the mounting position defined by the frame 8 installed in the heating device 2. Will respond to.

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

In addition, the heating system 1 described above is not limited to the usage mode in which one thermoplastic carbon fiber material W is heated, but for example, a small thermoplastic carbon fiber material is overlaid on a part of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material W. The combined state may be heated.

In addition, a heating recipe prepared for each type of various thermoplastic carbon fiber materials having different shapes, thicknesses, and dimensions is stored in the controller that controls each heater 10, and the heating recipe is switched by the operator. The operation may be acceptable.

1・・Heating system: 2・・Heating device: 3・・Conveying device: 4・・Heating furnace: 5, 6・・Conveyor: 7・・Stopper mechanism: 8・・Frame: 9・・Heater group: 10・・Heater: 11,12 ・・Reflector: 13 ・・Aperture: 14 ・・Center section: 15, 16 ・・Outer section: 17R1 ・・First roller: 17R2 ・・Second roller: 17R3 ・・Third Roller: 17R4... 4th roller: 17R5... 5th roller: 18... Angle adjustment mechanism: 19... Retaining plate: 20... Grip: 21... Telescopic device: 22... Stopper: 23... Strut ：24,29 ・・Mounting base: 25 ・・Sliding device: 26R1 ・・First area: 26R2 ・・Second area: 26R3 ・・Third area: 27 ・・Roller moving mechanism: 28 ・・Displacement prevention member: 100 ..Pressing machine: W... Thermoplastic carbon fiber material

Claims (3)

A belt conveyor on which a sheet-shaped thermoplastic carbon fiber material fed from a heating furnace is placed,
A stopper mechanism arranged in the vicinity of a press machine arranged on the downstream side of the belt conveyor, an abutting portion with which the end portion of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material fed out from the belt conveyor abuts, and the abutting portion. A stopper mechanism having a gripping portion that grips an end portion of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material that is positioned in the pressing machine by
An angle variable mechanism for inclining the downstream end of the belt conveyor so as to fold down toward the contact portion,
When the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is delivered from the heating furnace, the downstream end of the belt conveyor is moved or extended so that the end portion on the downstream side extends to the stopper mechanism side, and then the downstream of the belt conveyor. After tilting the end on the side by the angle varying mechanism, the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is fed out from the end on the downstream side of the belt conveyor, and the end of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material is gripped by the stopper, Control for moving or contracting the belt conveyor while keeping the downstream end of the belt conveyor tilted by the angle varying mechanism to return the downstream end of the belt conveyor to the upstream side of the belt conveyor. And a device ,
The stopper mechanism is a receiving plate that receives an end of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material that is fed from the downstream end of the belt conveyor, and an expansion and contraction device that inserts and removes the grip portion toward the upper surface of the receiving plate, Have
Transport device for thermoplastic carbon fiber materials. The stopper mechanism has a plurality of stoppers having the abutting portion and the grip portion along a lateral direction with respect to a conveyance direction of the belt conveyor,
The transport device for thermoplastic carbon fiber material according to claim 1 . The stopper mechanism further has a deviation prevention member that comes into contact with an edge of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material gripped by the grip portion,
When releasing the gripping state of the stopper that grips the end portion of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material, the control device holds the grip while maintaining the state in which the deviation prevention member is in contact with the edge of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material. Part and the contact part are separated from the thermoplastic carbon fiber material, and then the stopper mechanism is caused to perform an operation of separating the shift preventing member from the edge of the thermoplastic carbon fiber material,
The carrier for thermoplastic carbon fiber material according to claim 1 or 2 .

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