Apparatus and process for automatic, continuous production of preforms

摘要

An apparatus and a process for automatic, continuous production of preforms from dry fabrics containing a thermoplastic binder element by feeding individual layers (7-9) of dry fabrics towards an ultrasonic unit (13), applying ultrasonic energy from said ultrasonic unit (13) to said more than one layers (7-9) of dry fabrics applying pressure to said more than one layers (7-9) of dry fabrics containing a thermoplastic binder element while the binder element is activated by means of said ultrasonic energy in said ultrasonic unit (13), to create a consolidated, stiff laminate (18) and cutting said consolidated, stiff laminate (18) to a preform.

主权项

1. An apparatus for automatic, continuous production of a preform, the apparatus having an ultrasonic unit with a rotatable driven anvil roll, the ultrasonic unit comprising a battery of ultrasonic horns and being adapted to apply ultrasonic energy; pressurizing means for applying pressure via the battery of ultrasonic horns; and cutting means for cutting the preform to a final shape wherein the apparatus further has:
a) at least two fabric rolls having dry fabrics for supplying individual layers of dry fabric from each of the fabric rolls; b) at least one binder roll of thermoplastic binder element supplying one individual layer of binder element from the binder rolls, the at least two fabric rolls and the binder roll being arranged to feed the at least one individual layer of binder element between, essentially in parallel and in close contact to the adjacent individual layers of dry fabric from the fabric rolls and the binder roll, towards the ultrasonic unit, the ultrasonic unit being adapted to apply ultrasonic energy to the layers of dry fabrics and the layer of binder element to activate the binder element by means of the ultrasonic energy; c) a conveyor belt for supporting the two layers of dry fabric and the layer of binder element, the conveyor belt applying with strain the two layers of dry fabric and the layer of binder element, with less strain from the two fabric rolls and the binder roll towards the ultrasonic unit; d) pressurizing means for applying individual pressure to the two layers of dry fabric and the layer of binder element via the ultrasonic horns while the binder is activated by means of the ultrasonic energy from the ultrasonic horns to produce a stiff laminate, the pressurizing means being tunable and the stiff laminate having a thickness and; e) control means for controlling the pressurizing means during activation of the ultrasonic unit in order to adjust the thickness of the stiff laminate to a consolidated stiff laminate of predetermined thickness.