Patent ID: 7833373
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: B29C,B29D

Abstract:
1. A device for manufacturing a reinforcement from threads by laying each thread directly in its final position by spraying a length of the thread onto a receiving surface, the device comprising: a feeder adapted to feed thread from a source of thread; a rotary conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end, the conduit mounted adjacent its inner end for rotation within a plane of rotation about an axis of rotation, wherein the outlet end is spaced from the inlet end in a direction oriented substantially radially with respect to the axis of rotation, the conduit arranged for receiving thread from the feeder and discharging the thread from the outlet end at a rate of advance controlled by the feeder, a driver for rotating the conduit about the axis; a thread cutter arranged to cut a length of thread for each revolution of the conduit; and a thread guide arranged for guiding the lengths of thread received from the conduit, the guide comprising two deflectors defining therebetween a slot having a longitudinal direction arranged generally in the rotation plane, the slot having inner and outer ends spaced apart in that longitudinal direction, wherein the inner end is disposed proximate the conduit's outlet end and the outer end is disposed remote from the conduit's outlet end, the slot including an inlet orifice for receiving thread lengths from the conduit, and a spray orifice for discharging the thread lengths, the inlet orifice and the spray orifice being spaced apart transversely of the longitudinal direction of the slot, wherein the deflectors approach one another toward the spray orifice at an angle θ such that the slot narrows towards the spray orifice; the angle θ when measured at any point between the inlet orifice and the spray orifice, being in the range of 3° to 7°.