Patent EP-2754548-A1 (EP)
Title: Method for producing preforms for fibre reinforced composites
Inventor: KARB INGO
IPC: B29B11/16
Filed: 2011-04-15
Abstract: Constructing a three-dimensional preform for a component of a fiber composite material, comprises: (a) providing a workpiece carrier (40); (b) depositing a fiber band (30) of dry fibers on the workpiece carrier; (c) fixing the fibers on the edge of the workpiece carrier; (d) repeating the steps (b) and (c) according to a predetermined fiber band placing pattern for forming the three-dimensional preform; and (e) transferring the three dimensional preform from the workpiece carrier to the next production step, after completing the formation of the preform. Constructing a three-dimensional preform for a component of a fiber composite material, comprises: (a) providing a workpiece carrier (40) corresponding to the three-dimensional shape of the preform; (b) depositing a fiber band (30) of dry fibers on the workpiece carrier, where the fibers are optionally and temporarily fixed in sections; (c) fixing the fibers on the edge of the workpiece carrier; (d) repeating the steps (b) and (c) according to a predetermined fiber band placing pattern for forming the three-dimensional preform, where after carrying out each step (d) either the raw fibers are cut behind the sections of the fibers that are fixed on the edge of the workpiece carrier and the subsequent step (b) is carried out, or the step (b) is repeated without cutting the raw fibers; and (e) transferring the three dimensional preform from the workpiece carrier to the next production step, after completing the formation of the preform corresponding to the predetermined fiber band placing pattern in the step (d). Independent claims are also included for: (1) a device for constructing the three-dimensional preform for a component of a fiber composite material, comprising a workpiece carrier comprising a mold suitable for the three-dimensional shape of the preform, a laying head (20) for depositing the fiber band of dry fibers on the workpiece carrier, a temporary fixing device for optionally and temporarily fixing the fibers on the workpiece carrier in sections, an edge fixing device for fixing the fibers on the edge of the workpiece carrier, a fiber cutting device for cutting the fibers, and a transfer device for transferring the three-dimensional preform from the workpiece carrier to the subsequent production step; (2) a transfer device for transferring the three-dimensional preform from the workpiece carrier to the subsequent production step, whose shape corresponds to the bottom of the outer mold of the preform present in ready state on the workpiece carrier and which optionally exhibits a draping region for forming the preform present in ready state on the workpiece carrier; (3) a workpiece carrier for the three-dimensional preform for a component of a fiber composite material, comprising a workpiece carrier, which exhibits a workpiece mold region with a mold corresponding to the three-dimensional shape of the preform, and an edge fixing region for fixing the fibers of the deposited fiber band; (4) a fiber conducting device for conducting at least one fiber to be conveyed, of a fiber band, comprising an inlet in which the fibers to be conveyed are introduced in a fiber feeding direction, an outlet from which the fibers to be conveyed, are conducted out in the fiber feeding direction, and a fiber conducting chain, which connects the inlet with the outlet and in which the fibers to be conveyed in the fiber feeding direction, are conducted by rotatably mounted shafts or by rotatably mounted rollers that are independent of each other; and (5) a fiber cutting device comprising a counter bearing, a pusher and a knife with large blade angles, which is movable back and forth in a cutting direction, in which the counter bearing and the pusher are arranged and are movable such that they form a fiber passage between them in an outlet position, which extends perpendicular to the cutting direction, where a fiber in the fiber passage in a clamping position, is clamped on both sides of the moving path of the knife.