Cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment

Abstract

This invention relates to a cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment, including cutter component, drive mechanism that drives the cutter component to slide, and guide mechanism that provides slide room for the cutter component, the said guide mechanism comprises: cutter stop, base, cover plate arranged on the base, and cutting board arranged between the base and the cover plate; guide groove for accommodating cutter component slide is provided at the said base's contact side with the cutting board; the said cutter stop is arranged at the outer side of the guide groove to limit the cutter component from sliding out; the said cutting board has a protruding part relative to the base and the cover plate, a first tow guide hole is provided on the said protruding part; a second tow guide hole coaxial with the first guide hole is provided at the said cutter stop, a cutter avoidance groove is further provided at the said cutter stop's side close to the cutting board, and the second tow guide hole goes through the said cutter avoidance groove. The cutter device comes in robust and compact construction to guide the cutter to realize accurate movement.

Claims

1. A cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment, comprising at least one cutter component, at least one drive mechanism that drives the at least one cutter component to slide, and a guide mechanism that provides slide room for the at least one cutter component, wherein the guide mechanism comprises: a cutter stop, a base, a cover plate arranged on the base, and a cutting board arranged between the base and the cover plate; at least one guide groove for accommodating the cutter component to slide is provided in a side of the base in contact with the cutting board; the cutter stop is arranged at an outer side of the at least one guide groove to limit the at least one cutter component from sliding out; the cutting board has a protruding part relative to the base and the cover plate, and a first tow guide hole is provided on the protruding part; a second tow guide hole coaxial with the first tow guide hole is provided on the cutter stop, and a cutter avoidance groove is further provided at a side of the cutter stop close to the cutting board, the second tow guide hole extends through the cutter avoidance groove.

2. A cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment according to claim 1, wherein a number of the at least one cutter component is between 4 to 16, a corresponding number of guide grooves are provided on the base; the at least one drive mechanism corresponds to the number of cutter components; the cutting board is provided with a corresponding number of the first tow guide hole; the cutter stop is provided with a corresponding number of the second tow guide hole.

3. A cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment according to claim 2, wherein a compensating mechanism to force the at least one cutter component against the cutting board is arranged at the bottom of the at least one guide groove.

4. A cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cutter component comprises a cutter base and a cutter arranged on the cutter base, the cutter base drives the cutter to slide in the at least one guide groove, the cutter can enter the cutter avoidance groove to cut the tows.

5. A cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment according to claim 1, wherein a compensating mechanism to force the at least one cutter component against the cutting board is arranged at the bottom of the at least one guide groove.

6. A cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment according to claim 5, wherein the compensating mechanism comprises a kicker block and a compression spring arranged against and between the kicker block and the base; the kicker block is in contact with the at least one cutter component.

7. A cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment according to claim 6, wherein the compensating mechanism comprises three compression springs which are sequentially arranged in a length direction of the kicker block.

8. A cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment according to claim 7, wherein a first guide shaft is provided in the compression springs located at a first side and a second side of the kicker block, the first guide shaft is arranged against and between the kicker block and the base; a second guide shaft is provided in the compression spring located in a middle of the kicker block, one end of the second guide shaft is fixed at the kicker block, the other end penetrates through the base and is provided with limit bolt.

9. A cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment according to claim 1, wherein the at least one drive mechanism comprises a yoke, an air piston arranged on the yoke and an output shaft; the output shaft is connected with the at least one cutter component, the yoke is arranged on the guide mechanism.

10. A cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment according to claim 1, wherein the first tow guide hole is a rectangular through-hole, and at least one side wall surface of the rectangular through hole is inclined.

11. A cutter device for automated composite material placement equipment according to claim 1, wherein the second tow guide hole is a through-hole, a first funnel-shaped opening is provided at a top of the through hole; a second funnel-shaped opening coaxial with the second tow guide hole is provided in the cutter avoidance groove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is stereogram of the cutter device in the embodiment;

(2) FIG. 2 is side view of the cutter device in the embodiment;

(3) FIG. 3 is disassembly view of the cutter device in the embodiment;

(4) FIG. 4 is broken-out section view of the cutter device in non-cutting state in the embodiment;

(5) FIG. 5 is broken-out section view of the cutter device in cutting state in the embodiment.

(6) Where, 1: Guide mechanism; 101: Base; 102: Cover plate; 103: Cutting board; 104: Cutter stop; 105: Guide groove; 106: Protruding part; 107: Cutter avoidance groove; 108: First tow guide hole; 109: Second tow guide hole; 110: Second funnel-shaped opening; 111: First funnel-shaped opening; 2: Cutter component; 201: Cutter; 202: Cutter base; 3: Drive mechanism; 301: Yoke; 302: Output shaft; 303: Air piston; 4: Compensating mechanism; 401: Kicker block; 402: Compression spring; 403: Second guide shaft; 404: First guide shaft; 405: Limit bolt; 5. Fiber tow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(7) Below is further description of this invention in combination with specific embodiments and figures.

(8) As shown in FIG. 1-3, a cutter device for automated composite material placement includes: cutter component 2, drive mechanism 3, guide mechanism 1 and compensating mechanism 4. Where, there are totally eight cutter components 2, correspondingly, there are also eight drive mechanisms 3 and compensating mechanisms 4. Since the aforementioned eight cutter components 2, drive mechanisms 3 and compensating mechanisms 4 are respectively in the same constructions, FIG. 3 omits partially same constructions, and only gives illustration for one set of drive mechanisms 3, compensating mechanisms 4 and cutter components 2.

(9) As shown in FIG. 4-5, the guide mechanism 1 comprises: cutter stop 104, base 101, cover plate 102 fixed and mounted on the base 101, and cutting board 103 arranged between the base 101 and the cover plate 102. Guide groove 105 for accommodating the slide of cutter component 2 is provided at the contact side of base 101 and cutting board 106, there are a total of eight guide grooves 105 in parallel arrangement, respectively for installing eight cutter components 2. Cutter stop 104 is arranged at the outer side of guide groove 105 for limiting cutter component 2 from sliding out.

(10) Cutting board 103 has a protruding part 106 relative to base 101 and cover plate 102, eight first tow guide holes 108 corresponding to cutter components 2 are arranged on the protruding part 106. First tow guide hole 108 is a rectangular through hole, one side wall surface of the rectangular through hole is an inclined plane, and a cutting angle is formed between the inclined plane and cutter 201 to facilitate cutting. Eight second tow guide holes 109 coaxial with first tow guide hole 108 are also arranged on cutter stop 104. Second tow guide hole 109 is a through hole, and first funnel-shaped opening 111 is provided at the top of the through hole. A cutter avoidance groove 107 is further provided at the side of cutter stop 104 close to cutting board 103, and the second tow guide hole 109 goes through the cutter avoidance groove 107. Fiber tow 5 respectively goes through first tow guide hole 108, cutter avoidance groove 107 and second tow guide hole 109. A second funnel-shaped opening 110 coaxial with the second tow guide hole 109 is provided in the cutter avoidance groove 107. The funnel-shaped opening ensures that after the fiber tow 5 is cut and is to be conveyed again, the tow 5 can accurately enter the second tow guide hole 109.

(11) Cutter component 2 comprises cutter base 202 and cutter 201 arranged on cutter base 202. The front end face of the cutter 201 is arranged in inclination angle specifically at 0.8, allowing for easier cutting of tow 5. Cutter 201 is arranged tightly against cutting board 103. Cutter base 202 drives cutter 201 to slide along cutting board 103 in guide groove 105, cutter 201 can enter cutter avoidance groove 107 to cut tow 5.

(12) Eight compensating mechanisms 4 are respectively and correspondingly arranged at the bottom of the eight guide groove 105 to force the cutter components 2 against cutting board 103. The compensating mechanism 4 automatically compensates the cutter components 2, and pushes the cutter components 2 against the cutting board 103 tightly, eliminating the gap between the cutter component 2 and the cutting board 103. The compensating mechanism 4 can automatically compensate the wear error due to relative slide movement, improving tow cutting precision.

(13) The compensating mechanism 4 comprises kicker block 401, compression spring 402, first guide shaft 404 and second guide shaft 403. The contact surface between kicker block 401 and cutter base 202 is a flat plane, avoiding causing resistance to sliding between them. Three compression springs 402 are respectively arranged in each set of compensating mechanism, and compression spring 402 is abutted between kicker block 401 and base 101. Three compression springs 402 are sequentially arranged in the length direction of the kicker block 401. First guide shaft 404 is provided in the compression springs 402 at the two sides of kicker block 401, and the first guide shaft 404 is abutted between kicker block 401 and base 101. Second guide shaft 403 is provided in the compression spring 402 at the middle of kicker block 401, one end of second guide shaft 403 is fixed at kicker block 401, the other end goes through base 101 and is provided with limit bolt 405, with the mating effect of limit bolt 405 and second guide shaft 403, kicker block 401 can be prevented from sliding out when disassembling.

(14) Drive mechanism comprises yoke 301, air piston 303 arranged on yoke 301 and output shaft 302 of air piston 303, the output shaft 302 of air piston 303 is in fixed connection with cutter base 202, yoke 301 is arranged on guide mechanism 1, and the two ends of yoke 301 are respectively fixed and arranged on base 101 and cover plate 102.

(15) The working process is as follows:

(16) As shown in FIG. 4, the cutter device starts working as the automated placement device starts up, fiber tow 5 sequentially goes through first tow guide hole 108, cutter avoidance groove 107 and second tow guide hole 109, and are conveyed downward and laid and folded onto the mold, and fiber tow 5 is in tensioned state. At that time, cutter component 2 is in initial state, cutter 201 is in guide groove 105, and has not entered the cutter avoidance groove 107 yet.

(17) As shown in FIG. 5, the control system in the automated placement device gives tow-cutting command, air piston 303 provides the force to drive output shaft 302, output shaft 302 pushes cutter base 202 to move quickly forward for a distance, cutter 201 moves forward quickly along with the cutter base 202, and cutter 201 reaches cutter avoidance groove 107 to quickly cut target fiber tow 5.

(18) After the cutting is completed, air piston 303 drives cutter component 2 back to initial state, and repeats tow cutting process according to the command of the control system until the composite material processing is completed.