The present disclosure discloses a process for knotting roving packages, comprising steps of: arranging a plurality of roving packages in a single layer or multiple layers; classifying all roving packages into at least one group of roving packages; selecting, from each group of roving packages, two roving packages as a starting roving package and an ending roving package; successively connecting all roving packages in each group of roving packages from the starting roving package to the ending roving package; and, connecting an inner fiber of a roving package other than the starting roving package and the ending roving package in each group of roving packages to an outer fiber of a previous roving package and connecting an outer fiber of this roving package to an inner fiber of a next roving package, or connecting an outer fiber of a roving package other than the starting roving package and the ending roving package in each group of roving packages to an inner fiber of a previous roving package and connecting an inner fiber of this roving package to an outer fiber of a next roving package. By the process of the present disclosure, the labor cost for manually knotting and moving roving packages per unit can be saved, and creels for holding roving packages per unit can also be reduced. This process is a technical improvement of the packaging technology.

The present disclosure discloses a process for knotting roving packages, comprising steps of: arranging a plurality of roving packages in a single layer or multiple layers; classifying all roving packages into at least one group of roving packages; selecting, from each group of roving packages, two roving packages as a starting roving package and an ending roving package; successively connecting all roving packages in each group of roving packages from the starting roving package to the ending roving package; and, connecting an inner fiber of a roving package other than the starting roving package and the ending roving package in each group of roving packages to an outer fiber of a previous roving package and connecting an outer fiber of this roving package to an inner fiber of a next roving package, or connecting an outer fiber of a roving package other than the starting roving package and the ending roving package in each group of roving packages to an inner fiber of a previous roving package and connecting an inner fiber of this roving package to an outer fiber of a next roving package. By the process of the present disclosure, the labor cost for manually knotting and moving roving packages per unit can be saved, and creels for holding roving packages per unit can also be reduced. This process is a technical improvement of the packaging technology.

A method produces a partial split-fiber fiber bundle capable of stably separating a fiber bundle continuously for a long time even when a splice part is present in the partial split-fiber fiber bundle. The method produces a partial split-fiber fiber bundle in which when the fiber bundle having the splice part formed by joining fiber bundles is allowed to travel along a longitudinal direction, a part of the fiber bundle is separated by thrusting a protruding part of the fiber splitting means into the fiber bundle, and timing at which the fiber splitting means is thrust into the fiber bundle is changed based on position information of the splice part obtained by detecting the splice part.

A method produces a partial split-fiber fiber bundle capable of stably separating a fiber bundle continuously for a long time even when a splice part is present in the partial split-fiber fiber bundle. The method produces a partial split-fiber fiber bundle in which when the fiber bundle having the splice part formed by joining fiber bundles is allowed to travel along a longitudinal direction, a part of the fiber bundle is separated by thrusting a protruding part of the fiber splitting means into the fiber bundle, and timing at which the fiber splitting means is thrust into the fiber bundle is changed based on position information of the splice part obtained by detecting the splice part.

A method of producing a partially separated fiber bundle includes a partial separation processing step for alternately forming separation-processed sections, each divided into a plurality of bundles, and not-separation-processed sections along the lengthwise direction of a fiber bundle, wherein a separation means provided with a plurality of projected parts is penetrated into the fiber bundle to create separation-processed parts, the separation means is removed from the fiber bundle, and the separation means is penetrated into the fiber bundle again, characterized in that a sizing agent is applied at an arbitrary timing during the production process of the partially separated fiber bundle. A partially separated fiber bundle is obtained by the production method, a fiber-reinforced resin molding material uses the partially separated fiber bundle, and a production method makes the fiber-reinforced resin molding material.

A method of producing a partially separated fiber bundle includes a partial separation processing step for alternately forming separation-processed sections, each divided into a plurality of bundles, and not-separation-processed sections along the lengthwise direction of a fiber bundle, wherein a separation means provided with a plurality of projected parts is penetrated into the fiber bundle to create separation-processed parts, the separation means is removed from the fiber bundle, and the separation means is penetrated into the fiber bundle again, characterized in that a sizing agent is applied at an arbitrary timing during the production process of the partially separated fiber bundle. A partially separated fiber bundle is obtained by the production method, a fiber-reinforced resin molding material uses the partially separated fiber bundle, and a production method makes the fiber-reinforced resin molding material.

A method of spreading fibres, the method comprises providing a continuous fibre bundle having an initial width W.sub.a and causing the fibre bundle to run, in a running direction, through tensioning means and past or through fluid flow means, the tensioning means intermittently varying the tension in the fibre bundle and the fluid flow means producing a fluid flow through the fibre bundle as the tension varies in the fibre bundle, whereby the width of the fibre bundle increases to a spread width W.sub.b. Apparatus (1) is also disclosed, which apparatus (1) comprises a tensioning means (3) to intermittently vary the tension in the fibre bundle (2) and a fluid flow means (4) for producing a flow of fluid through the bundle (2).

A method of spreading fibres, the method comprises providing a continuous fibre bundle having an initial width W.sub.a and causing the fibre bundle to run, in a running direction, through tensioning means and past or through fluid flow means, the tensioning means intermittently varying the tension in the fibre bundle and the fluid flow means producing a fluid flow through the fibre bundle as the tension varies in the fibre bundle, whereby the width of the fibre bundle increases to a spread width W.sub.b. Apparatus (1) is also disclosed, which apparatus (1) comprises a tensioning means (3) to intermittently vary the tension in the fibre bundle (2) and a fluid flow means (4) for producing a flow of fluid through the bundle (2).

What is provided is a method for stably producing a fiber-reinforced resin molding material by splitting a fiber bundle such that a split portion becomes long while anon-split portion is shortened. A method for producing a fiber-reinforced resin molding material in which a cut fiber bundle is impregnated with a resin, the method comprising a splitting step of splitting the fiber bundle with a splitting machine at intervals in a longitudinal direction and a cutting step of cutting the fiber bundle at intervals in the longitudinal direction after the splitting step, in which the splitting machine comprises a rotary blade having a releasing section and a spacer member adjacent to the rotary blade.

A method of separating carbon fiber tows. The method includes separating two or more first carbon fiber tows from a first tow band onto a second elevation to form two or more second carbon fiber tows from a second tow band. The two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band leave gaps next to first adjacent tows of the two or more first carbon fiber tows remaining from the first tow band after the separating step. The first adjacent tows from the first tow band leave gaps next to second adjacent tows of the two or more second carbon fiber tows from the second tow band.