Device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings

Abstract

Device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings made from glass, carbon, aramid and other similar filaments, designed especially for production of composite reinforcements or supporting elements such as the reinforcement of tailgates of personal vehicles, consists of individual unwinding spools (2) of fibrous rovings (21) rotatably arranged around the composite product (1). The unwinding spools (2) are installed on the set of the rotary disc rings (3) which are mounted on a common fixed ring frame (4) and equipped with independent drives (5) with pre-programmed control of direction and speed of their rotation wherein the composite product (1) is during the laying up procedure alternately fixed to individual carrier grippers (8) of at least one program-controlled manipulator (9). In each rotary disc ring (3) as well as in fixed ring frame (4) at least one lateral passage (6) is created for entry and exit of the composite product (1) between the unwinding spools (2).

Claims

1. A device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings made from glass, carbon, aramid and other similar filaments, designed especially for production of composite reinforcements or supporting elements such as the reinforcement of tailgates of personal vehicles, consisting of individual unwinding spools (2) of fibrous rovings (21) rotatably arranged around the composite product (1), wherein the unwinding spools (2) are installed on the set of the rotary disc rings (3) which are mounted on a common fixed ring frame (4) and equipped with independent drives (5) with pre-programmed control of direction and speed of their rotation wherein the composite product (1) is during the laying up procedure alternately fixed to individual carrier grippers (8) of at least one program-controlled manipulator (9) and in each rotary disc ring (3) as well as in fixed ring frame (4) at least one lateral passage (6) is created for entry and exit of the composite product (1) between the unwinding spools (2).

2. The device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings according to claim 1, wherein the rotary disc rings (3) are installed on a common fixed ring frame (4) removable to allow their automatic exchange.

3. The device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings according to claim 1, wherein each rotary disc ring (3) is provided with a central openable ring (10) for introducing the composite product (1) and the fibrous rovings (21) from unwinding spools (2) into its inner space (7).

4. The device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings according to claim 1, wherein the set of rotary disc rings (3) comprises of three rotary disc rings (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) arranged laterally on the fixed ring frame (4) which the first rotary disc ring (3.1) is equipped with the first independent drive (5.1), the second rotary disc ring (3.2) with the second independent drive (5.2) and the third rotary disc ring (3.3) with the third independent drive (5.3) with the programmable control of speed and direction of rotation for laying up the fibrous rovings (21) onto the composite product (1) with a variable angle relatively to its central axis.

5. The device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings according to claim 1, wherein the one side of the system of rotary disc rings (3) mounted to the fixed disc frame (4) the auxiliary device (11) for the automatic start and end of winding and on the other side there is a loading manipulator (15) with an extrusion split mandrel (16) for introducing the fibrous rovings (21) via the central openable rings (10) toward the auxiliary device (11).

6. The device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary device (11) is formed by an auxiliary manipulator (12) with the banding mechanism (13) for taping or strapping the fibrous rovings (21) to the composite product (1) before and after winding as well as the split mechanism (14) for their cutting off.

7. The device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings according to claim 1, wherein the program-controlled manipulator (9) is provided with a tool changer (18) for the exchange of carrier grippers (8) of the composite product (1) for assembly grippers (19) for mounting of the rotary disc rings (3) to the ring frame (4).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is further clarified by drawings of exemplary optimum execution of the device for laying up a composite product according to the invention, where the following is indicated:

(2) FIG. 1assembly of the laying up device with composite product and program-controlled main manipulator in 3D view

(3) FIG. 2detail of the rotary disc rings with a fixed ring frame in an expanded condition and 3D view

(4) FIG. 3cross-section schematic layout of rotary disc rings

(5) FIG. 4the set of fixed ring frame with rotary disc rings in 3D view

(6) FIG. 5general view of the device from the direction of the auxiliary device for winding start and end with auxiliary manipulator

(7) FIG. 6view of the device from the direction of the loading manipulator

(8) FIG. 7detail of the mounting gripper for the exchange of the rotary disc rings

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(9) Device for laying up a composite product with fibrous rovings in the preferred embodiment, intended for production of 3D closed frame composite reinforcements for tailgates of personal vehicles, consisting as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 from the individual unwinding spools 2 arranged rotatably around the composite product t which are fixed to the assembly of three rotary disc rings 3 which are installed coaxially on the fixed ring frame 4. The fixed ring frame 4 is arranged on the base frame 20.

(10) As shown in FIG. 2, the set of rotary disc rings 3 consists of two rotary disc rings 3.1, 3.2 which are arranged on one side of the fixed ring frame 4 and by one rotary disc ring 3.3 deposited on the other side of the fixed ring frame 4. As can be seen particularly from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, each rotary disc ring 3 is equipped with a central openable ring 10 for introduction of the composite product 1 and of the fibrous rovings 21 from the unwinding spools 2 into its inner space 7 before starting the laying up process. As can then be seen from FIG. 3, on each rotary disc rings 3 are between the individual unwinding spools 2 and the central openable ring 10 positioned some guiding eyelets 17 for the fibrous rovings 21. Since the rotation of the unwinding spools 2 is induced by pulling the fibrous rovings 21 in course of moving the composite product 1 between them, the individual unwinding spools 2 are equipped withnot shown herevariable rotation brakes which are integrated into the pivot bearing and which allow to control the stiffness of the laying up of all fibrous rovings 21 on the composite product 1.

(11) On each rotary disc rings 3, that means on the first rotary disc ring 3.1, on the second rotary disc ring 3.2 as well as on the third rotary disc ring 3.3 are in this embodiment arranged 15 unwinding spools 2. However in other specific embodiments of the invention a different number of unwinding spools 2 may be used as required even on each of the rotary disc rings 3, and on each of the rotary disc rings 3 the unwinding spools 2 with different types of fibrous rovings 21 may be used.

(12) As further seen in FIG. 1, the composite product 1 is during its laying up alternately fixed to carrier grippers 8 of the program-controlled manipulator 9 which is equipped with the tool changer 18 to exchange the carrier grippers 8 for the composite product 1 for assembly grippers 19 of the rotary disc rings 3 on the fixed ring frame 4. These assembly grippers 19 are shown in FIG. 7 as stored on some unmarked base prior to their use. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, in each rotary disc ring 3 as well as in fixed ring frame 4 one lateral passage 6 is created for entry and exit of the composite product 1 between the unwinding spools 2.

(13) As can then be seen from FIG. 4, the first rotary disc ring 3.1 is equipped with the first independent drive 5.1 for the helical winding of the lower layer of the fibrous roving 21 onto the composite product 1 the second rotary disc ring 3.2 is equipped with the second independent drive 5.2 for circumferential winding of longitudinal layer of fibrous rovings 21 onto the composite product 1 andnot shown herethe third rotary disc ring 3.3 is equipped with the third independent drive 5.3 for helical winding of overlay fibrous rovings 21 onto the composite product 1 in the opposite direction to the winding of the lower layer.

(14) The actual driving of the rotary disc rings 3 is assured via gear mechanism of independent drives 5 to the ring gears 22 which are installed onto the rotary disc rings 3.

(15) As seen from FIG. 5, on one side of the assembly of rotary disc rings 3 installed on the fixed ring frame 4 is arranged also the auxiliary device 11 for automatic initiation and termination of the lay up process. This auxiliary device 11 is formed by the auxiliary manipulator 12 in form of a running carriage with linear feed, equipped with a banding mechanism 13 for taping or strapping of the fibrous rovings 21 onto the composite product 1 before and after laying up procedure as well as with an split mechanism 14 for shearing the tapes or straps.

(16) As shown in FIG. 6, along the other side of the set of rotary disc rings 3 mounted to the fixed ring frame 4, the loading manipulator 15 with the extrusion split mandrel 16 of the fibrous rovings 21 through the central openable rings 10 is arranged towards the auxiliary device 11. The movement of the extrusion split mandrel 16 through the axis of the central openable rings 10 towards the auxiliary device 11 and by simultaneously opening of the central openable rings 10, thus allowing on the one hand the above-mentioned loading of the composite product 1 and fibrous rovings 21 from the unwinding coils 2 in the axial inner space of 7 central openable rings 10 respectively rotary disc rings 3 and also the extrusion of fibrous rovings 21 to the banding mechanism 13 of the auxiliary device 11 prior to the commencement of the process of laying up.

FIELD OF THE APPLICATION

(17) The device according to the invention can be widely used not only in the automotive industry for the production of structural components of vehicles, but also other structural elements in other fields of industry.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(18) 1. Composite product 2. Unwinding coil 3. Rotary disc ring 3.1 First rotary disc ring 3.2 Second rotary disc ring 3.3 Third rotary disc ring 4. Fixed ring frame 5. Self-contained drive 5.1 First self-contained drive 5.2 Second self-contained drive 5.3 Third self-contained drive 6. Lateral passage 7. Inner space 8. Carrier grippers 9. Program-controlled manipulator 10. Central openable ring 11. Auxiliary device 12. Auxiliary manipulator 13. Banding mechanism 14. Split mechanism 15. Loading manipulator 16. Extrusion split mandrel 17. Guiding eyelets 18. Tool changer 19. Assembly grippers 20. Base frame 21. Fibrous rovings 22. Ring gears