Cleaning device for a preimpregnated carbon fiber placement machine
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a cleaning device ( 5 ) to be used in a preimpregnated carbon fiber placement machine including at least one guiding roller ( 47 ) for guiding a band ( 21 ) of tows to an application head ( 25 ), comprising two filtering elements ( 11, 13 ) arranged such that a band ( 21 ) of tows supported by two plates ( 15, 17 ) joined with adjustable clamping means ( 29 ) for said filtering elements ( 11, 13 ) and means of fixing/separating them to/from said machine, circulates between them. The invention also relates to a preimpregnated carbon fiber placement machine with at least one cleaning device ( 5 ).
1. A cleaning device ( 5 ) to be used in a preimpregnated carbon fiber placement machine including at least one guiding roller ( 47 ) for guiding a band ( 21 ) of tows to an application head ( 25 ), wherein said cleaning device comprises two filtering elements ( 11 , 13 ) arranged such that a band ( 21 ) of tows passes between said filtering elements, said filtering elements being supported by two plates ( 15 , 17 ) joined with adjustable clamps ( 29 ) for adjusting the position of said filtering elements ( 11 , 13 ), wherein at least one of the filtering elements ( 11 , 13 ) has its inner side configured with guiding channels ( 41 ) for the tows ( 43 ) of the band ( 21 ).
2. A cleaning device ( 5 ) to be used in a fiber placement machine according to claim 1 , wherein the filtering elements ( 11 , 13 ) are made with a material capable of extracting the excess surface fiber and resin from said tows ( 43 ) without reducing the fiber and resin content of their core.
3. A cleaning device ( 5 ) to be used in a fiber placement machine according to claim 2 , wherein said filtering elements ( 11 , 13 ) are made with honeycomb polyethylene foam.
4. A cleaning device ( 5 ) to be used in a fiber placement machine according to claim 1 , wherein said cleaning device also comprises means of removing ( 35 ) the material from the tows ( 43 ) accumulated in said filtering elements ( 11 , 13 ).
5. A preimpregnated carbon fiber placement machine including at least one guiding roller ( 47 ) for guiding a band ( 21 ) of tows to an application head ( 25 ), wherein said machine comprises at least one cleaning device ( 5 ) according to claim 1 .
6. A preimpregnated carbon fiber placement machine according to claim 5 , wherein said cleaning device ( 5 ) is located at the exit of a guiding roller ( 47 ).
7. A preimpregnated carbon fiber placement machine including at least one guiding roller ( 47 ) for guiding a band ( 21 ) of tows to an application head ( 25 ), wherein said machine comprises at least one cleaning device ( 5 ) according to claim 2 .
8. A preimpregnated carbon fiber placement machine including at least one guiding roller ( 47 ) for guiding a band ( 21 ) of tows to an application head ( 25 ), wherein said machine comprises at least one cleaning device ( 5 ) according to claim 3 .
9. A preimpregnated carbon fiber placement machine including at least one guiding roller ( 47 ) for guiding a band ( 21 ) of tows to an application head ( 25 ), wherein said machine comprises at least one cleaning device ( 5 ) according to claim 4 .
10. A preimpregnated carbon fiber placement machine according to claim 7 , wherein said cleaning device ( 5 ) is located at the exit of a guiding roller ( 47 ).
11. A preimpregnated carbon fiber placement machine according to claim 8 , wherein said cleaning device ( 5 ) is located at the exit of a guiding roller ( 47 ).
12. A preimpregnated carbon fiber placement machine according to claim 9 , wherein said cleaning device ( 5 ) is located at the exit of a guiding roller ( 47 ).