A device for manufacturing a chopped fiber bundle includes a cutter roll provided with one or more disk blades on a circumference of a roll core having a center axis coinciding with a rotation axis of the roll core and a nip roll provided in parallel with the rotation axis of the roll core, to feed a reinforcing fiber yarn to be continuously cut between the nip roll and the cutter roll, further including a rotary drive mechanism that rotates the cutter roll and at least one of: a reciprocating drive mechanism that reciprocates the cutter roll along the rotation axis of the roll core; and a traverse guide that traverses the reinforcing fiber yarn along the rotation axis of the roll core.

A device for manufacturing a chopped fiber bundle includes a cutter roll provided with one or more disk blades on a circumference of a roll core having a center axis coinciding with a rotation axis of the roll core and a nip roll provided in parallel with the rotation axis of the roll core, to feed a reinforcing fiber yarn to be continuously cut between the nip roll and the cutter roll, further including a rotary drive mechanism that rotates the cutter roll and at least one of: a reciprocating drive mechanism that reciprocates the cutter roll along the rotation axis of the roll core; and a traverse guide that traverses the reinforcing fiber yarn along the rotation axis of the roll core.

A system for debundling fiber tow into chopped fibers is provided that has one or more reels of fiber tow, a cutting element configured to receive the fiber tow to form chopped fiber, and a tube with introduced gas flow configured to receive the chopped fiber. A moving belt is positioned under the tube to collect the chopped fiber. A dispenser is positioned along the moving belt for applying a binder or additive. A treatment chamber receives the treated chopped fiber. A process for debundling fiber tow into chopped fibers is provided that supplies one or more reels of fiber tow to a cutting system, drops the chopped fiber into a tube with introduced gas flow to debundle the chopped fiber with a vortex, collects the chopped fiber exiting the tube onto a moving belt, chemically treats the chopped fiber, and provides the chemically treated chopped to a treatment chamber.

A system for debundling fiber tow into chopped fibers is provided that has one or more reels of fiber tow, a cutting element configured to receive the fiber tow to form chopped fiber, and a tube with introduced gas flow configured to receive the chopped fiber. A moving belt is positioned under the tube to collect the chopped fiber. A dispenser is positioned along the moving belt for applying a binder or additive. A treatment chamber receives the treated chopped fiber. A process for debundling fiber tow into chopped fibers is provided that supplies one or more reels of fiber tow to a cutting system, drops the chopped fiber into a tube with introduced gas flow to debundle the chopped fiber with a vortex, collects the chopped fiber exiting the tube onto a moving belt, chemically treats the chopped fiber, and provides the chemically treated chopped to a treatment chamber.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus that includes a fiber gun. In an embodiment, the apparatus may controllably cut one or more fibers into one or more fiber segments. In an embodiment, the apparatus may controllably shape one or more fibers into different shapes (e.g., from loops into substantially straight fibers). In an embodiment, the apparatus may controllably position the one or more fiber segments onto a supporting member (e.g., a composite component). For example, the apparatus may include a robot that may controllably move the fiber gun relative to a supporting member and align the fiber gun such that the one or more fiber segments are controllably positioned on the supporting member. The apparatus may further include a controller that at least partially controls operation of the apparatus.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus that includes a fiber gun. In an embodiment, the apparatus may controllably cut one or more fibers into one or more fiber segments. In an embodiment, the apparatus may controllably shape one or more fibers into different shapes (e.g., from loops into substantially straight fibers). In an embodiment, the apparatus may controllably position the one or more fiber segments onto a supporting member (e.g., a composite component). For example, the apparatus may include a robot that may controllably move the fiber gun relative to a supporting member and align the fiber gun such that the one or more fiber segments are controllably positioned on the supporting member. The apparatus may further include a controller that at least partially controls operation of the apparatus.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus that includes a fiber gun. In an embodiment, the apparatus may controllably cut one or more fibers into one or more fiber segments. In an embodiment, the apparatus may controllably shape one or more fibers into different shapes (e.g., from loops into substantially straight fibers). In an embodiment, the apparatus may controllably position the one or more fiber segments onto a supporting member (e.g., a composite component). For example, the apparatus may include a robot that may controllably move the fiber gun relative to a supporting member and align the fiber gun such that the one or more fiber segments are controllably positioned on the supporting member. The apparatus may further include a controller that at least partially controls operation of the apparatus.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus that includes a fiber gun. In an embodiment, the apparatus may controllably cut one or more fibers into one or more fiber segments. In an embodiment, the apparatus may controllably shape one or more fibers into different shapes (e.g., from loops into substantially straight fibers). In an embodiment, the apparatus may controllably position the one or more fiber segments onto a supporting member (e.g., a composite component). For example, the apparatus may include a robot that may controllably move the fiber gun relative to a supporting member and align the fiber gun such that the one or more fiber segments are controllably positioned on the supporting member. The apparatus may further include a controller that at least partially controls operation of the apparatus.

One mode of the invention relates to a producing a device for chopped fiber bundles having a chopper unit including a cutting blade for cutting long fiber bundles, a guide for restricting the travel direction of the fiber bundles to be supplied to the cutting means, and a structure, provided between the chopper unit and the guide, that widens the fiber bundles. The invention also relates to method for producing chopped fiber bundles by widening fiber bundles while restricting the travel direction of the long fiber bundles to be supplied to chopper unit by a guide, and obtaining chopped fiber bundles by cutting the fiber bundles with the chopper unit.

One mode of the invention relates to a producing a device for chopped fiber bundles having a chopper unit including a cutting blade for cutting long fiber bundles, a guide for restricting the travel direction of the fiber bundles to be supplied to the cutting means, and a structure, provided between the chopper unit and the guide, that widens the fiber bundles. The invention also relates to method for producing chopped fiber bundles by widening fiber bundles while restricting the travel direction of the long fiber bundles to be supplied to chopper unit by a guide, and obtaining chopped fiber bundles by cutting the fiber bundles with the chopper unit.