JP6774651B2 - Manufacturing equipment for chopped fiber bundles - Google Patents

Description

According to the present invention, a chopped fiber bundle that has good impregnation property, fluidity, and molding followability when used as a molding material and exhibits excellent mechanical properties when used as a fiber reinforced plastic can be stably produced without trouble. The present invention relates to a chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus capable of continuously manufacturing.

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

In the SMC molded product, a chopped fiber bundle is produced by cutting a fiber bundle of reinforcing fibers in the direction orthogonal to the fiber so that the fiber length is, for example, about 25 mm, and the chopped fiber bundle is impregnated with a matrix resin which is a thermosetting resin. It is obtained by heating and pressurizing a sheet-like base material (SMC) in a semi-cured state using a heating type press machine. The stampable sheet molded product is a sheet-like base material (stampable sheet) in which a non-woven fabric mat made of chopped fiber bundles cut to about 25 mm or continuous reinforcing fibers is impregnated with a thermoplastic resin, and is once thermoplasticized with an infrared heater. It is obtained by heating above the melting point of the resin, laminating it on a mold having a predetermined temperature, and cooling and pressurizing it. In many cases, before pressurization, the SMC or stampable sheet is cut into a size smaller than the shape of the molded body, placed on the molding die, and stretched (flowed) into the shape of the molded body by pressurization to perform molding. Since the fibers of these are discontinuous, the reinforcing fiber bundle can freely flow 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 material of the fiber reinforced plastic made of the above-mentioned discontinuous reinforcing fibers, there is a disclosure regarding the finding that the cutting angle of the discontinuous fibers is smaller than 90 ° with respect to the fiber direction (for example, Patent Document). 1, 2). In such disclosure, by using a chopped strand having an oblique cut surface, the joint area between the resin and the strand end is increased, stress concentration is avoided, and the fracture strength is improved. Further, the chopped strand is easily opened into a single fiber, the resin-strand joint area is increased, stress concentration is avoided, and the fracture strength is improved.

As a method for obtaining chopped strands smaller than 90 ° with respect to the fiber direction, Patent Document 1 mentions a cutting roll in which a cutting blade is diagonally arranged on a rotating roll. Further, Patent Document 2 describes a method in which fiber threads are tilted and introduced into a cutter roll in which straight blades are arranged in the circumferential direction of the roll, as in a normal cutter roll.

JP-A-2009-114611 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-114612

However, when continuous cutting is performed with a roll-shaped blade as exemplified in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the reinforcing fibers cut between the blades are likely to be clogged and cut according to a predetermined fiber length and angle. It may be difficult to do. If the blade is clogged, the reinforcing fibers may not be cut well, and the above-mentioned irregularly shaped chopped strands may occur. If the cutting is continued, the reinforcing fibers may not be cut at all, or the reinforcing fibers may be wrapped around the cutter, which may lead to a failure of the cutting device.

In addition, chopped strands may adhere and accumulate on the nip roll side. If cutting is continued with the chopped strand attached to the nip roll, the chopped strand will be repeatedly fed into the cutter, and there is a risk that chopped pieces of chopped strand will be mixed.

The subject of the present invention pays attention to the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to continuously diagonally cut the reinforcing fiber yarn with a simple device, and to diagonally cut the reinforcing fiber yarn at a smaller angle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus capable of stably and continuously manufacturing a chopped fiber bundle obtained by cutting without troubles due to dust generated during cutting.

In order to solve the above problems, the chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.
(1) Reinforcing fiber threads can be nipped between a rotated 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 with the roll axis direction of the cutter roll. A rotating nip roll, a guide for guiding the reinforcing fiber thread between the nip roll and the cutter roll, and at least one of the cutter roll, the nip roll, and the guide in the roll axial direction of the cutter roll. A reciprocating drive mechanism that reciprocates in a parallel direction is provided, and a thread path of the reinforcing fiber thread that is fed between the nip roll and the cutter roll via the guide is passed through the reciprocating drive mechanism. A chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus that continuously cuts the reinforcing fiber threads by the cutter roll while reciprocating in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll. It is arranged close to the cutter roll or the nip roll in parallel with the roll axis direction of the cutter roll or the nip roll with respect to at least one of the nip rolls, and is rotationally driven in the same direction as the rotation direction of the cutter roll or the nip roll. The cleaning roll is provided, and an air blowing mechanism for blowing cleaning air toward a portion of the cutter roll or the nip roll located between the cutter roll or the nip roll and the cleaning roll is provided. Equipment for manufacturing chopped fiber bundles.
(2) The chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus according to (1), wherein the air blowing mechanism is configured by using an air knife.
(3) The cleaning roll is configured as a roll having a large number of holes penetrating between the inside of the hollow roll and the roll surface, and the air blowing mechanism provides an air nozzle inside the roll of the cleaning roll. The chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus according to (1), wherein the air from is blown toward the cutter roll or the nip roll through the large number of holes.
(4) The chopped according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the cleaning roll is rotationally driven so that the peripheral speed of the surface thereof is higher than the peripheral speed of the surface of the cutter roll or the nip roll. Fiber bundle manufacturing equipment.
(5) The apparatus for producing a chopped fiber bundle according to any one of (1) to (4), which has a gap adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the gap between the cutter roll or the nip roll and the cleaning roll.
(6) The apparatus for producing a chopped fiber bundle according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the surface of the cleaning roll is made of an elastic material.
(7) The chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the air blowing mechanism has an adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the speed or amount of cleaning air to be blown.
(8) The apparatus for producing a chopped fiber bundle according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the reinforcing fiber yarn is made of carbon fiber yarn.

According to the present invention, a chopped fiber bundle obtained by continuously diagonally cutting a reinforcing fiber thread and diagonally cutting at a smaller angle with a simple device, and particularly obtained by the diagonal cutting, can be obtained. It is possible to provide a chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus capable of stably and continuously manufacturing without troubles due to dust generated at the time of cutting.

It is a schematic perspective view of the chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus which concerns 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 formed by the reinforcing fiber thread cut by the disk blade. It is a partially enlarged view 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 a thread path for carrying out this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the structure of the cutter roll for carrying out this invention. It is an enlarged schematic block diagram which shows an example of the nip part of the cutter roll and the nip roll for carrying out this invention. It is schematic block diagram which shows the example of the cleaning operation by the cleaning roll of the dust generated at the time of cutting for demonstrating the effect by this invention. It is a schematic partial block diagram for demonstrating the cleaning operation in the chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. It is a schematic partial block diagram for demonstrating the cleaning operation in the chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus which concerns on another embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Overall configuration of chopped fiber bundle manufacturing equipment>
First, the overall configuration of the manufacturing apparatus used for manufacturing the chopped fiber bundle in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the manufacturing apparatus 200, the rotation axis and the central axis of the roll body 41 are located on the outer periphery of the roll body 11. A rotating cutter roll 10 in which a plurality of disk blades 12 are arranged at intervals in the roll axis direction XX so as to coincide with each other, and a cutter roll 10 arranged in parallel with the roll axis direction XX of the cutter roll 10. A rotating nip roll 20 capable of nipating a reinforcing fiber thread 1 (a reinforcing fiber thread composed of a bundle of a plurality of continuous reinforcing fibers) between the two, and a reinforcing fiber thread 1 between the nip roll 20 and the cutter roll 10. It has a guide 30 and a guide 30 for guiding the guide. 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 for reciprocating these in a direction parallel to the roll axial direction XX of the cutter roll 10. In the illustrated example, both the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 that reciprocates the set of the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20 and the reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42 that reciprocates the guide 30 are provided.

The thread path of the reinforcing fiber thread 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 reciprocated in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction XX of the cutter roll 10, and a chopped fiber bundle 50 is manufactured. It is preferable that the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 and the reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42 are independently driven and controlled. In the state shown in FIG. 1, by operating at least one of the reciprocating drive mechanism (A) 41 and the reciprocating drive mechanism (B) 42, the thread path of the reinforcing fiber thread 1 becomes a 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 thread path of the reinforcing fiber thread 1 is obliquely entered into the set of the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20, the reinforcing fiber thread 1 is continuously and diagonally cut by the cutter roll 10 at both ends. A chopped fiber bundle 50 obtained by cutting diagonally.

In the chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus 200, the cutter roll 10 is parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll 10 or the nip roll 20 with respect to at least one of the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20 (relative to the cutter roll 10 in the illustrated example). Alternatively, a cleaning roll that is arranged close to the nip roll 20 (at intervals) and is rotationally driven in the same direction as the rotation direction of the cutter roll 10 or the nip roll 20 (in the illustrated example, in the same direction as the rotation direction of the cutter roll 10). 60 is provided, and the cleaning roll 60 appropriately cleans the cutter roll 10 as a cleaning target as described later. Then, a portion of the cutter roll 10 or the nip roll 20 located between the cutter roll 10 or the nip roll 20 and the cleaning roll 60 (in the illustrated example, a portion located between the cutter roll 10 and the cleaning roll 60 of the cutter roll 10). An air blowing mechanism 70 for blowing cleaning air toward the surface is provided. In the present embodiment, the air blowing mechanism 70 is configured by using an air knife 71 having a slit-shaped air outlet, and the air supply line 72 that supplies air to the air knife 71 is cleaned by being blown by the air knife 71. An adjusting mechanism 73 that can adjust the speed or amount of air for air is provided. It is also possible to arrange a plurality of pipe-shaped air nozzles (not shown) instead of the air knife 71 having a slit-shaped air outlet. Details of a cleaning example using such an air blowing mechanism 70 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 or integrated with the outer peripheral portion of the roll body 11, but it is preferable that the disk blade 12 is removable from the viewpoint of blade maintenance. Further, the nip roll 20 is installed so as to be adjacent to or in contact with the cutter roll 10 substantially parallel to the rotation axis direction of 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 if an elastic material such as rubber or urethane is used, the force for gripping the reinforcing fiber thread 1 can be improved. In particular, when an elastic material is used for the nip roll 20, the adhesion to the cutter roll 10 is improved, so that the reinforcing fiber thread 1 can be reliably cut.

<Reinforcing fiber thread>
The reinforcing fiber thread 1 used in the present invention is not particularly limited, but is a high-strength reinforcing fiber in which the disk blade 12 wears quickly and the disk blade 12 needs to be replaced frequently, and among them, the hardness is particularly high. In the case of carbon fiber, the present invention is suitable.

<Full cutting procedure>
The reinforcing fiber thread 1 is guided by the guide 30, and while the thread path is reciprocated to the left and right relative to the set of the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20, the cutter roll 10 and its paired nip roll 20 It is sandwiched between the two and cut into the shape of the chopped fiber bundle 50 by the disk blade 12 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. Further, in this case, the nip roll 20 may be driven and the cutter roll 10 may be driven as free. Further, both the nip roll 20 and the cutter roll 10 may be driven if the slip does not move well due to friction.

<Tension applied to reinforcing fiber threads>
The reinforcing fiber thread 1 is sandwiched between the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20, is pulled in by the rotation of the cutter roll 10 and / or the nip roll 20, and tension is applied. As a result, the reinforcing fiber thread 1 is fixed between the guide 30 and the nip roll 20 while maintaining a predetermined angle. Therefore, the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 can be directly cut without any special treatment such as fixing the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 with a guide or impregnating the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 with a resin to solidify in advance.

<Explanation of angle adjustment>
Next, the angle at which the reinforcing fiber thread 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 thread 1 enters the disk blade 12 on the cutter roll 10 at an angle θ [°] and is cut. To. 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 thread 1.

Here, V [m / min] is the relative speed between the moving speed of the guide 30 that guides the reinforcing fiber thread 1 and the moving speed of the cutter roll 10 in the roll axis direction, that is, the thread path of the reinforcing fiber thread 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 velocities, the angle θ [°] can be easily and steplessly controlled at any time without replacing the disk blade 12.

Further, the angle θ [°] can be continuously changed by arbitrarily changing the relative velocity V [m / min]. By utilizing such a cutting method, it is 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] can be easily changed. be able to.

Further, by increasing the peripheral velocity Rω [m / min] with respect to the relative velocity V [m / min] or adjusting the relative velocity V [m / min] itself to a smaller value, the angle θ [° ] Is very small, for example, it is possible to obtain chopped fiber bundles such as θ <5 °. Such a chopped fiber bundle having an extremely small cutting angle θ [°] can be applied to, for example, a discontinuous fiber reinforced plastic, and its strength can be improved.

<Explanation of cutting length>
As shown in FIG. 3, the cutting length of the reinforcing fiber thread 1 is strengthened when the interval (arrangement pitch) of the disk blades 12 is P [mm] and the reinforcing fiber thread 1 enters at an angle θ [°]. The cutting length of the fiber thread 1 is P / sinθ [mm]. That is, it is possible to control the cutting length arbitrarily and steplessly by simply changing the angle θ [°] without changing the distance P [mm] of the disk blades 12.

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

In the above operation, when the guide 30 is turned, the angle θ [°] approaches 0 ° and the cutting length is from P / sin θ [mm] in the process of switching the cutting angle from θ [°] to −θ [°]. The 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 occur. In order to suppress the fiber length of the chopped fiber bundle 51, the moving speed of the thread path of the reinforcing fiber thread 1 at the folded end of the reciprocating stroke is relative to the moving speed up to the folded end. It is preferably controlled to increase appropriately.

Next, an example of the configuration of the cutter roll 10 is shown in FIG. A disk blade 12 having a blade attached to the outer edge and having an opening for attachment in the center and a disk-shaped spacer 13 having an opening for attachment in the center are alternately arranged, and the disk blade 12 and the spacer 13 are arranged alternately. The cutter roll 10 can be configured by inserting the roll body 11 into the opening of the blade. With such a configuration, when the disk blade 12 is worn out, only the worn disk blade 12 needs to be replaced, and the work time and the replacement cost associated with the replacement of the disk blade 12 can be shortened. In particular, it is suitable for cutting high-strength reinforcing fibers in which the disk blade 12 wears quickly and the disk blade 12 needs to be replaced frequently, particularly high-hardness carbon fiber. Further, with this configuration, the spacing between the disk blades 12 can be easily and accurately changed by exchanging or rearranging the spacers 13. Further, even if a plurality of cutter rolls 10 are not owned, one type of cutter roll 10 can correspond to various angles θ [°] and fiber length 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. Thereby, it is possible to correspond to the reinforcing fiber yarn 1 of various thicknesses.

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

The reinforcing fiber thread 1 is fed between the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20 configured as described above and cut, and the reinforcing fiber thread 1 that is nipped and cut is shown in FIG. 6, for example. become. That is, the reinforcing fiber thread 1 is surely nipated between the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20, and the necessary disk blade 12 is used to continuously cut the fed reinforcing fiber thread 1. I will go.

Next, the cleaning operation by the cleaning roll 60 in the present invention will be described. The following description exemplifies the case where the cleaning roll 60 is provided on the cutter roll 10, but the same cleaning function can be obtained when the cleaning roll 60 is provided on the nip roll 20.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cutter roll 10 to be cleaned is provided with a slight gap (for example, a gap of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm) between the cutter roll 10 and the tip of the disk blade 12 of the cutter roll 10. When the cleaning roll 60 is arranged in parallel with the cutter roll 10, dust G such as cutting chips of the reinforcing fiber threads 1 adhering to the surface of the cutter roll 10 is separated from the cutter roll 10 as shown in FIG. 7 (A). It is flipped off by contact with the surface of the cleaning roll 60 (thus, the moving direction of the peripheral surface of the cutter roll 10 and the moving direction of the peripheral surface of the cleaning roll 60 are counter directions facing each other) that are rotated in the same direction. Is removed. In particular, when the cleaning roll 60 is rotationally driven so that the peripheral speed of the surface thereof is higher than the peripheral speed of the surface of the cutter roll 10 (for example, 1.5 times or more faster, preferably 2 times or more faster), The effect of repelling garbage G is improved. However, as shown in FIG. 7B, the dust G that has completely entered between the disk blades 12 cannot come into contact with the surface of the cleaning roll 60, which may make cleaning difficult.

Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8, the cleaning roll 60 that is rotationally driven as described above is provided, and the cleaning roll 60 is located between the cutter roll 10 and the cleaning roll 60 in the cutter roll 10 using the air knife 71. An air blowing mechanism 70 for blowing cleaning air 100 toward a portion is provided. By providing such an air blowing mechanism 70, for example, as shown in FIG. 7B described above, even if the dust G completely enters between the disk blades 12, the air 100 is blown. Dust G is caused by the dust G, and the generated dust G comes into contact with the surface of the cleaning roll 60 and is flipped off to be removed. Further, by appropriately adjusting the speed or amount of the cleaning air by the adjusting mechanism 73, it is possible to directly blow off the dust G adhering to the surface of the cutter roll 10 by the blowing air 100 having an appropriate wind speed. .. As a result of providing the air blowing mechanism 70, it is possible to more reliably remove the dust G adhering to the surface of the cutter roll 10, and in particular, it is possible to completely remove the dust G that has entered between the disk blades 12. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately remove the dust G that may induce troubles when cutting with the cutter roll 10, and to stably and continuously produce a desired chopped fiber bundle without troubles.

The material of the surface of the cleaning roll 60 is not particularly limited, but if the surface of the cleaning roll 60 is made of a soft and elastic material such as rubber, even if the disk blade 12 is used. Even if it comes into contact with the tip, cleaning can be continued without damaging the disk blade 12, and the coefficient of friction with the dust G to be removed can be increased, so that the dust G due to contact can be increased. It is easier and more reliable to flip the rubber. Further, regardless of whether a soft material such as rubber is used or a harder material is used, for example, a groove extending in the circumferential direction is added to the surface of the cleaning roll 60. As a result, the surface of the cleaning roll 60 can partially penetrate between the disk blades 12, and the cleaning effect of the cleaning roll 60 can be further improved.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic partial configuration for explaining a cleaning operation in a chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, in particular another embodiment of a cleaning roll and an air blowing mechanism. This is an effective embodiment when it is difficult to install the air knife 71 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. In FIG. 9, the cleaning roll 80 arranged parallel to the cutter roll 10 is composed of a hollow roll inside the roll and a roll having a large number of holes 81 penetrating between the inside of the hollow roll and the roll surface. Has been done. The air blowing mechanism 90 has an air nozzle 91 inserted and installed inside the roll of the cleaning roll 80, and the air supply line 92 that supplies air to the air nozzle 91 has a large number of cleaning rolls 80 from the air nozzle 91. An adjusting mechanism 93 that can adjust the speed or amount of the cleaning blown air 100 that is blown toward the cutter roll 10 through the hole 81 is provided.

In such a cleaning roll 80 and the air blowing mechanism 90, the direction of the air nozzle 91 is fixed, and air 100 is always blown from the air outlet of the air nozzle 91 toward the cutter roll 10 through a large number of holes 81 for cleaning. The roll 80 is rotated in the same direction as the cutter roll 10, and dust on the surface of the cutter roll 10 caused by the blowing air 100 is repelled by contact with the cleaning roll 80. The device shown in FIG. 9 has the same cleaning effect as the device shown in FIG. The internal mechanism of the cleaning roll 80 is slightly more complicated than that of the device shown in FIG. 8, but the space for installing the air knife 71 is not required as in the device shown in FIG.

In the above description of the embodiment, the cutter roll 10 is exemplified as the cleaning target, but when the cleaning target is the nip roll 20, the same cleaning mechanism by air blowing can be installed. It is also possible to install a cleaning mechanism by blowing air on both the cutter roll 10 and the nip roll 20.

The present invention can be applied to all applications that require continuous and stable production of chopped fiber bundles by diagonally cutting reinforcing fiber threads while cleaning a cutter roll or the like, and in particular, the reinforcing fiber threads are carbon. It is suitable when it is a fiber thread.

1: Reinforcing fiber thread 10: Cutter roll 11: Roll body 12: Disk blade 13: Spacer 20: Nip roll 30: Guide 41: Reciprocating drive mechanism (A)
42: Reciprocating drive mechanism (B)
43: Folded end moving speed control means 50, 51, 52: Chopped fiber bundle 60, 80: Cleaning roll 70, 90: Air blowing mechanism 71: Air knife 72, 92: Air supply line 73, 93: Adjusting mechanism 81: Hole 91; Air nozzle 100: Blown air 200: Chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus θ: Fiber cutting angle [°]
V: Relative speed [m / min] with respect to the moving speed of the guide with respect to the moving speed of the cutter roll in the roll axis direction.
Rω: Peripheral speed of cutter roll [m / min]
P: Arrangement pitch of disk blades

Claims (8)

A rotating cutter roll in which a plurality of disk blades are arranged at intervals in the roll axis direction and a cutter roll arranged in parallel with the roll axis direction of the cutter roll can be rotated so that a reinforcing fiber thread can be nipated between the cutter roll. A guide for guiding the reinforcing fiber thread 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. The cutter roll is provided with a reciprocating drive mechanism for reciprocating the reinforcing fiber thread, which is fed between the nip roll and the cutter roll via the guide. A chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus that continuously cuts the reinforcing fiber threads by the cutter roll while moving the reinforcing fiber threads so as to reciprocate in a direction parallel to the roll axis direction of the cutter roll and the nip roll. Cleaning that is arranged close to the cutter roll or the nip roll in parallel with the roll axis direction of the cutter roll or the nip roll and is rotationally driven in the same direction as the rotation direction of the cutter roll or the nip roll with respect to at least one of them. A chopped fiber provided with a roll and provided with an air blowing mechanism for blowing cleaning air toward a portion of the cutter roll or the nip roll located between the cutter roll or the nip roll and the cleaning roll. Bundle manufacturing equipment. The chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air blowing mechanism is configured by using an air knife. The cleaning roll is configured as a roll having a large number of holes penetrating between the inside of the hollow roll and the surface of the roll, and the air blowing mechanism provides an air nozzle inside the roll of the cleaning roll and air from the air nozzle. The chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus is configured to have a mechanism for spraying the cutter roll or the nip roll through the large number of holes. The chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cleaning roll is rotationally driven so that the peripheral speed of the surface thereof is higher than the peripheral speed of the surface of the cutter roll or the nip roll. .. The apparatus for producing a chopped fiber bundle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a gap adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the gap between the cutter roll or the nip roll and the cleaning roll. The apparatus for producing a chopped fiber bundle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the surface of the cleaning roll is made of an elastic material. The chopped fiber bundle manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the air blowing mechanism has an adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the speed or amount of cleaning air to be blown. The apparatus for producing a chopped fiber bundle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the reinforcing fiber yarn is made of carbon fiber yarn.

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