JP7087278B2 - Preform molding equipment and preform molding method - Google Patents

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 being impregnated with the resin.

As a preform molding method, a method of arranging a fiber base material in a molding die and shaping it is generally known. When the fiber base material is shaped 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 describes a method of forming a preform using a fiber base material in which wrinkles and fraying are less likely to occur by adjusting the knitting method of the knitting yarn for fixing the fiber bundle of the fiber base material. It has been disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 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. Therefore, when the fiber base material is shaped into a complicated shape, if the shape is formed without considering anisotropy, the fiber base material may be wrinkled or frayed.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and molding a preform capable of suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles and fraying on the fiber base material when shaping the fiber base material. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for forming an apparatus and a preform.

The preform molding apparatus according to the present invention that achieves the above object is a molding apparatus that forms a preform in which a fiber base material is shaped into a predetermined three-dimensional shape. The molding apparatus presses pressure on at least a part of the shaping mold that shapes the fiber base material and the outer peripheral region of the fiber base material that is located on the outer edge side of the region shaped by the shaping mold. It has an outer peripheral holding portion for imparting and holding, a tension adjusting portion for adjusting the tension acting on the fiber base material, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the shaped mold and the outer peripheral holding portion. The control unit controls the operation of the outer peripheral holding portion to hold at least a part of the outer peripheral region, and while maintaining a state of holding at least a part of the outer peripheral region, the shaping type operation is performed. Controlled to shape the fiber substrate. In the tension adjusting unit, the tension acting on the fiber base material when shaping the fiber base material is higher than the tension acting on the fiber direction of the fiber arranged on the outermost layer of the fiber base material. Adjust so that the tension acting in the direction intersecting the fiber direction is lower .

The preform molding method according to the present invention that achieves the above object is a molding method for molding a preform in which a fiber base material is shaped into a predetermined three-dimensional shape. In the molding method, a pressing force is applied to at least a part of the outer peripheral region located on the outer edge side of the fiber base material to be shaped and held, and at least a part of the outer peripheral region is held. The tension acting on the fiber base material is the tension acting in the direction intersecting the fiber direction rather than the tension acting on the fiber direction of the fiber arranged on the outermost layer of the fiber base material. The fiber base material is shaped so as to be low .

Since the fiber base material is shaped while retaining at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the fiber base material, tension can be applied to the fiber base material. As a result, when the fiber base material is shaped, the fiber base material does not loosen, so that the occurrence of wrinkles can be suppressed. Further, by adjusting the tension acting on the fiber base material in consideration of the anisotropy of the fiber base material, it is possible to suppress the fraying of the fibers of the fiber base material. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles and fraying in the fiber base material when shaping the fiber base material, and improve the appearance quality and mechanical properties of the preform.

It is a schematic diagram of the molding apparatus of the fiber base material which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which arranged the fiber base material in the lower mold. It is a perspective view which shows typically the fiber base material. It is a flowchart which shows the molding method of the preform which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the state which arranged the fiber base material in a molding die. It is a figure which shows typically the state which held the outer peripheral region of a fiber base material. It is a figure which shows the state of shaping a fiber base material schematically. It is a figure which shows typically the state which the shaping of a fiber base material is completed. It is a figure which shows the demolding of a preform schematically. It is a figure which shows typically the molding apparatus which concerns on a comparative example. It is a figure which shows typically the state which the fiber base material was shaped by the molding apparatus which concerns on a comparative example.

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

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Composite material)
By combining the fiber base material 11 and the resin, the composite material has higher strength and rigidity than the molded product composed of the resin alone. Compared to a car body constructed by assembling parts made of steel material, the composite material is applied to, for example, front side members and skeleton parts such as pillars used for the car body of an automobile, and outer panel parts such as a roof. The weight of the car body can be reduced.

The composite material is formed by impregnating a preform 10 having a fiber base material 11 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 forming it into a predetermined shape.

The fiber base material 11 can be formed of, for example, carbon fiber, glass fiber, organic fiber, or the like. In this embodiment, an example in which carbon fiber is used as the fiber base material 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 coefficient of thermal expansion, excellent dimensional stability, and little deterioration in mechanical properties even at high temperatures. Can be used for.

The fiber base material 11 is composed of, for example, a laminated body in which a plurality of sheet-shaped non-crimp fabrics (NCF) materials in which a plurality of fiber bundles arranged in one direction of fibers are knitted and fixed by knitting yarn are laminated. Can be done. Since the non-crimp fabric material has higher shapeability than the woven 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 woven material, wrinkles and fraying are likely to occur during shaping. According to the molding apparatus 100 and the molding method of the preform 10 described later, wrinkles and fraying occur during shaping by adjusting the tension acting on the fiber base material 11 in consideration of anisotropy. It can be suppressed.

The adhesive is applied to the fiber base materials 11 to bond the fiber base materials 11 to each other. As a result, when the fiber base material 11 is shaped into a desired shape, it plays a role of maintaining the shape.

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

(Molding equipment)
The molding apparatus 100 of the preform 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

The molding apparatus 100 includes at least a part of a shaped mold 110 that shapes the fiber base material 11 and an outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 that is located on the outer edge side of the region 11a shaped by the shaped mold 110. Operation of each part of the outer peripheral holding portion 120, the driving portion 130 for driving the shaping mold 110 and the outer peripheral holding portion 120, the tension adjusting portion 140 for adjusting the tension acting on the fiber base material 11, and the molding apparatus 100. It has a control unit 150 for controlling the above.

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

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

The lower mold 111 is a fixed mold. The lower mold 111 has a concave molding surface 111s that is recessed toward the lower side.

The upper mold 112 is a movable type that can approach and separate from the lower mold 111. The upper mold 112 has a convex molding surface 112s facing the molding surface 111s 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 portion 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 fiber. Of the base material 11, at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b located on the outer edge side of the region 11a 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 die 112 and the outer peripheral holding portion 120 of the shaping mold 110, and causes the upper die 112 and the outer peripheral holding portion 120 to approach and separate from the lower die 111. The pressurizing device 132 pressurizes the outer peripheral holding portion 120 in the direction toward the lower mold 111 while the outer peripheral holding portion 120 is close to the lower mold 111. As a result, the outer peripheral holding portion 120 can apply a pressing force F1 toward the lower mold 111 to the fiber base material 11.

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

The pressing force F1 applied to the fiber base material 11 by the outer peripheral holding portion 120 is preferably set to a relatively low load, and can be set to, for example, 150 kPa or less. As a result, when shaping the fiber base material 11, it is possible to allow the fiber base material 11 to flow into the shaping mold 110, so that the fiber base material 11 can be shaped into a desired three-dimensional shape. can.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tension adjusting portion 140 applies a reaction force F2 (see FIG. 5B) to the pressing force F1 applied to the fiber base material 11 by the outer peripheral holding portion 120 to the outer peripheral holding portion 120. It has a plurality of reaction force applying portions 141.

The reaction force applying portion 141 adjusts the strength with which the outer peripheral holding portion 120 holds the fiber base material 11 by adjusting the magnitude of the reaction force F2 with respect to the pressing force F1 applied to the fiber base material 11 by the outer peripheral holding portion 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 tension T acts on the fiber base material 11. The acting tension T becomes relatively low. In this way, the reaction force applying portion 141 can adjust the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11.

The reaction force applying portion 141 is composed of an elastic member or a cylinder (not shown). When a force is applied to the elastic member and the cylinder in the direction of compression, a reaction force is generated in the direction of extension. Utilizing this, the reaction force applying portion 141 applies the reaction force F2 to the pressing force F1 applied to the fiber base material 11 by the outer peripheral holding portion 120 to the outer peripheral holding portion 120. Since the reaction force applying portion 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 applying portion 141 is configured by a coil-shaped spring which is an elastic member, as shown in FIG. The reaction force applying portion 141 can adjust the magnitude of the reaction force F2 by, for example, adjusting the length of the spring, the spring constant, and the like.

When the reaction force applying portion 141 is composed of a cylinder, the magnitude of the reaction force F2 of the tension adjusting portion 140 can be adjusted by adjusting the pressure in the cylinder.

As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of reaction force applying portions 141 are a plurality of the upper surface 111a of the lower mold 111 so as to correspond to the divided region 11c in which at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 is divided into a plurality of portions. It is arranged for each area (area divided by a broken line). Further, 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. Note that 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 material 11 and the shape of the preform 10.

As the outer peripheral holding portion 120 approaches the lower mold 111, the plurality of reaction force applying portions 141 come into contact with the outer peripheral holding portion 120, respectively. When the outer peripheral holding portion 120 further approaches the lower mold 111, a reaction force F2 is generated against the outer peripheral holding portion 120, respectively.

With the above configuration, the tension adjusting unit 140 adjusts the pressing force F1 applied by the outer peripheral holding portion 120 to the divided region 11c in which at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 is divided into a plurality of divided regions 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 material 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 tend to fray. Therefore, the inflow amount of the fiber base material 11 into the shaping mold 110 is relatively increased in the direction B where the fiber base material 11 intersects the fiber direction A where the fiber base material 11 easily frays, and acts on the direction B where the fiber base material 11 intersects the fiber direction A. By making the tension T relatively low, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of fraying in the fiber base material 11.

Further, in general, the phenomenon of fiber fraying is caused by the fiber fraying generated on the outermost layer 11t of the fiber base material 11, and the fiber fraying propagates to the inner layer. Therefore, if the fraying of the fibers on the outermost surface 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, in the tension adjusting unit 140, the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 is more than the tension T acting on the fiber direction A of the fiber arranged on the outermost surface layer 11t of the fiber base material 11. Also, the tension T acting in the direction B intersecting the fiber direction A is adjusted to be lower. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of fraying on the outermost surface layer 11t of the fiber base material 11. As a result, it is possible to prevent the fiber base material 11 from fraying.

The control unit 150 controls the operation of the entire molding apparatus 100. Specifically, with reference to FIG. 1, the control unit 150 transmits and receives various data and control commands to and from the storage unit 151 composed of ROM and RAM and the arithmetic unit 152 mainly composed of a CPU. It has an input / output unit 153 and. The input / output unit 153 is connected to the shaping type 110 and the outer peripheral holding unit 120.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 150 is connected to the shaping type 110 and the outer peripheral holding unit 120 via the driving unit 130, and controls the operation of the driving unit 130 to control the operation of the shaping type 110 and the outer peripheral holding unit. It controls the operation of 120.

Further, in the present embodiment, the tension adjusting unit 140 can adjust the magnitude of the reaction force F2 by adjusting the length of the spring of the reaction force applying unit 141 configured by the spring, the spring constant, and the like. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the tension adjusting 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 applying unit 141 is composed of a cylinder, the control unit 150 can adjust the reaction force F2 applied by the reaction force applying unit 141 by controlling the pressure in the cylinder.

(Molding method)
Next, the molding method of 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 arranged on the lower mold 111 (step S1), and is located on the outer edge side of the fiber base material 11 with respect to the region 11a to be shaped. At least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b is held (step S2). Then, while maintaining the state of holding at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11, the fiber base material 11 is shaped (step S3), and the molded preform 10 is removed from the shape forming mold 110. (Step S4).

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

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

In step S2, as shown in FIG. 5B, the outer peripheral holding portion 120 is brought closer to the lower mold 111, and at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 is sandwiched between the outer peripheral holding portion 120 and the lower mold 111. Further, the outer peripheral holding portion 120 is pressed in the direction toward the lower die 111 (the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 5B) to apply the pressing force F1 to the fiber base material 11. As a result, at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 is sandwiched and held between the outer peripheral holding portion 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 base material 11, and the fiber base material 11 is brought close to the lower die 111. The region 11a to be shaped is pressed downward. As a result, the tension T is applied to the fiber base material 11 in the direction from the shaping region 11a toward the outer peripheral region 11b. When shaping the fiber base material 11, the fiber base material 11 does not loosen due to the action of tension T. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5D, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles on the fiber base material 11 after shaping the fiber base material 11.

Further, when shaping the fiber base material 11, the tension adjusting portion 140 divides at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 into a plurality of divided regions 11c (see FIG. 2). The pressing force F1 applied to is adjusted for each division region 11c. As a result, the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 intersects with the tension T acting on the fiber direction A of the fibers arranged on the outermost layer 11t (see FIG. 3) of the fiber base material 11 in the fiber direction. The tension T acting in the direction (the direction in which the fiber base material 11 is likely to fray) can be adjusted to be lower. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of fraying on the outermost surface layer 11t of the fiber base material 11. As a result, it is possible to prevent the fiber base material 11 from fraying.

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 the fiber base material 11 is wrinkled.

Further, 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, in order to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles, the fiber base material 11 is held in a state where a high pressing force is applied to the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 without considering the anisotropy of the fiber base material 11. When shaped, the fiber base material 11 is frayed.

On the other hand, by shaping the fiber base material 11 while holding at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 as in the present embodiment, the tension T can be applied to the fiber base material 11. As a result, when the fiber base material 11 is shaped, the fiber base material 11 does not loosen, so that the occurrence of wrinkles can be suppressed. Further, by adjusting the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11, it is possible to suppress the fraying of the fibers of the fiber base material 11.

As described above, the molding device 100 for the preform 10 according to the present embodiment is a molding device for molding 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 shaped mold 110 that shapes the fiber base material 11 and an outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 that is located on the outer edge side of the region 11a shaped by the shaped mold 110. Control to control the operation of the outer peripheral holding portion 120 that applies and holds the pressing force F1 to the portion, the tension adjusting portion 140 that adjusts the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11, and the shaping mold 110 and the outer peripheral holding portion 120. It has a portion 150 and. The control unit 150 controls the operation of the outer peripheral holding portion 120 to hold at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 and maintains a state of holding at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11. While still, the operation of the shaping mold 110 is controlled to shape the fiber base material 11. The tension adjusting unit 140 adjusts the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 when shaping the fiber base material 11.

Further, the molding method of the preform 10 according to the present embodiment is a molding method for molding the preform 10 in which the fiber base material 11 is shaped into a predetermined three-dimensional shape. In the molding method, a pressing force is applied to at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b located on the outer edge side of the region 11a to be shaped, and the fiber base material 11 is held by applying a pressing force to the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11. The fiber base material 11 is shaped while adjusting the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 while maintaining the state of holding at least a part thereof.

According to the preform 10 molding apparatus 100 and the preform 10 molding 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. The tension T can be applied to the fiber base material 11. As a result, when the fiber base material 11 is shaped, the fiber base material 11 does not loosen, so that the occurrence of wrinkles can be suppressed. Further, by adjusting the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 in consideration of the anisotropy of the fiber base material 11, it is possible to suppress the fraying of the fibers of the fiber base material 11. Thereby, when the fiber base material 11 is shaped, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles and fraying on the fiber base material 11 and improve the appearance quality and mechanical properties of the preform.

Further, the tension adjusting unit 140 adjusts the pressing force F1 applied by the outer peripheral holding portion 120 to the divided region 11c in which at least a part of the outer peripheral region 11b of the fiber base material 11 is divided into a plurality of divided regions 11c. As a result, a relatively high tension T is applied in the direction in which the wrinkles are likely to occur in the fiber base material 11, and the tension T is relatively low in the direction in which the fiber base material 11 is likely to fray. The tension T can be adjusted to act. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles and fraying on the fiber base material 11.

Further, the shaping mold 110 is a lower mold 111 (first mold) in which the fiber base material 11 is arranged, and an upper mold 112 that shapes the fiber base material 11 relatively close to the lower mold 111. (Second type) and. The outer peripheral holding portion 120 applies a pressing force F1 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 outer peripheral region of the fiber base material 11 is applied. Holds at least a portion of 11b. Since the operation of the lower mold 111 and the operation of the outer peripheral holding portion 120 are linked, the lower mold 111 and the outer peripheral holding portion 120 can be driven by the same driving unit 130. As a result, the structures of the shaping mold 110 and the outer peripheral holding portion 120 can be simplified, so that the manufacturing cost of the molding apparatus 100 can be reduced.

Further, the tension adjusting unit 140 has a reaction force applying unit 141 that applies a reaction force F2 to the pressing force F1 applied to the fiber base material 11 by the outer peripheral holding unit 120 to the outer peripheral holding unit 120. The reaction force applying portion 141 can adjust the pressing force F1 applied to the fiber base material 11 by the outer peripheral holding portion 120 to adjust the strength with which the outer peripheral holding portion 120 holds the fiber base material 11. 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 tension T acts on the fiber base material 11. The acting tension T becomes 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 inflow of the fiber base material 11 can be allowed in the direction in which the fiber base material 11 is likely to fray, and the occurrence of fraying can be suppressed.

Further, the reaction force applying portion 141 has an elastic body or a cylinder. Since the reaction force applying portion 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, in the tension adjusting unit 140, the tension T acting on the fiber base material 11 intersects with the tension T acting on the fiber direction A of the fiber arranged on the outermost surface layer 11t of the fiber base material 11 in the fiber direction. Adjust so that the tension acting on the fiber is lower. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of fraying on the outermost surface layer 11t of the fiber base material 11. As a result, it is possible to prevent the fiber base material 11 from fraying.

Further, the fiber base material 11 has a non-crimp fabric material in which a plurality of fiber bundles in which the fiber directions A are arranged in one direction are knitted and fixed by knitting yarn. Since the non-crimp fabric material has higher formability than the woven material, it can be suitably used for forming a preform having a complicated shape. Further, 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.

Although the preform molding apparatus and the preform molding method have been described above through the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the embodiments and is appropriately modified based on the description of the scope of claims. It is possible to do.

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 peripheral holding portions may be arranged for each divided region of the fiber base material. Thereby, the pressing force applied to the fiber base material by the outer peripheral holding portion can be adjusted for each divided region.

Further, the fiber base material is not limited to the configuration described in the above-described embodiment, and for example, the fiber base material may be composed of a woven fabric material. Further, although the fiber base material is composed of a laminated body in which a plurality of sheet-shaped base materials are laminated, it may be composed of a single base material.

10 preforms,
11 Fiber substrate,
11a Excipients of the fibrous substrate,
11b outer peripheral area,
11c fibrous substrate split region,
The outermost layer of the 11t fiber base material,
100 molding equipment,
110 shaped type,
111 Lower mold (first mold),
112 Upper type (second type),
120 outer circumference holding part,
130 drive unit,
140 Tension adjuster,
141 Reaction force applying part,
150 control unit,
F1 pressing pressure,
F2 reaction force,
T tension,
A fiber direction,
B Direction that intersects the fiber direction.

Claims (11)

There is a molding device that molds a preform in which a fiber base material is shaped into a predetermined three-dimensional shape.
The shaping type that shapes the fiber base material and the shaping type that shapes the fiber base material
Of the fiber base material, an outer peripheral holding portion that applies and holds at least a part of the outer peripheral region located on the outer edge side of the region shaped by the shaping mold by applying a pressing force.
A tension adjusting unit that adjusts the tension acting on the fiber substrate,
It has the shaped type and the control unit that controls the operation of the outer peripheral holding portion.
The control unit
By controlling the operation of the outer peripheral holding portion, at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the fiber base material is held.
While maintaining a state of holding at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the fiber base material, the operation of the shaping type is controlled to shape the fiber base material.
In the tension adjusting unit, the tension acting on the fiber base material when shaping the fiber base material is higher than the tension acting on the fiber direction of the fiber arranged on the outermost layer of the fiber base material. A preform molding device that adjusts so that the tension acting in the direction intersecting the fiber direction is lower . The first aspect of the present invention, wherein the tension adjusting portion adjusts the pressing force applied by the outer peripheral holding portion to the divided region obtained by dividing at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the fiber base material into a plurality of divided regions for each divided region. Preform molding equipment. The shaping mold has a first mold in which the fiber base material is arranged and a second mold in which the fiber base material is shaped relatively close to the first mold. death,
The outer peripheral 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 is subjected to a pressing force toward the first mold. The preform molding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which holds at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the above. The tension adjusting portion has a plurality of reaction force applying portions for applying a reaction force to the pressing force applied to the fiber base material by the outer peripheral holding portion to the outer peripheral holding portion, according to claims 1 to 3. The molding apparatus according to any one. The preform molding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the reaction force applying portion has an elastic body or a cylinder. It is a molding method for molding a preform in which a fiber base material is shaped into a predetermined three-dimensional shape.
Of the fiber base material, at least a part of the outer peripheral region located on the outer edge side of the region to be shaped is applied with a pressing force and held.
The tension acting on the fiber base material acts in the fiber direction of the fiber arranged on the outermost layer of the fiber base material while maintaining the state of holding at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the fiber base material. A method for forming a preform, which shapes the fiber base material by adjusting the tension acting in a direction intersecting the fiber direction to be lower than that of the fiber base material. The sixth aspect of claim 6 , wherein when shaping the fiber base material, the pressing force applied to the divided region obtained by dividing at least a part of the outer peripheral region of the fiber base material into a plurality of divided regions is adjusted for each divided region. Preform molding method. 6 . The preform molding method described in. The method for forming a preform according to any one of claims 6 to 8 , wherein a reaction force to a pressing force applied to the fiber base material is applied when the tension acting on the fiber base material is adjusted. .. The method for forming a preform according to claim 9 , wherein a reaction force against a pressing force applied to the fiber base material is applied by an elastic body or a cylinder. The device according to any one of claims 6 to 10 , wherein the fiber base material has a non-crimp fabric material in which a plurality of fiber bundles in which the fiber directions are arranged in one direction are knitted and fixed by knitting yarn. Remodeling molding method.

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