Device and method for producing a reinforcing structure on the surface of a moulding
AssigneeKautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsJakob Steven Marten Kok, Patrick Koelzer
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Abstract
The present invention discloses a device for producing a reinforcing structure, which comprises a strip that is fiber-reinforced and comprises thermoplastic material, on the surface of a molding. The device is characterized in that it is designed such that the laser diode array directly irradiates the heating-up area of the strip and/or the heating-up area of the surface of the molding or of the already formed reinforcing structure, wherein the laser diodes of the laser diode array are formed as surface emitters.
Claims20
A device for producing a reinforcing structure, which comprises a fiber-reinforced strip including a thermoplastic material, on a molded body surface of a molded body, the device comprising:
- a contact pressure unit for pressing the strip onto the molded body surface;
- the strip positionable between the contact pressure unit and the molded body surface such that a contact pressure region of the strip is bringable into contact with the contact pressure unit and the molded body surface, whereby the strip is subjectable to a force in a direction of the molded body surface by of the contact pressure unit;
- the device comprises a translation and/or rotation unit coupled in terms of motion to the molded body and/or to the contact pressure unit such that a motion and/or a rotation of the molded body relative to the contact pressure unit is achievable, whereby the strip is applyable to the molded body surface, wherein during application of the strip to the molded body surface, the contact pressure unit moves in a direction of relative motion (R1) with respect to the molded body surface, and the strip is pulled in a pulling direction (R2) in relation to the contact pressure unit;
- at least one laser diode array having a multiplicity of laser diodes for irradiating a heating surface of the strip ahead of the contact pressure region of the strip in the pulling direction (R2), and/or for irradiating a heating surface of the molded body after the contact pressure region of the strip in the direction of relative motion (R1);
- the strip is meltable locally in the region of the heating surface thereof and/or the molded body surface is meltable locally in the region of the heating surface thereof by irradiation by the laser diode array to join the strip to the molded body by pressing the strip onto the molded body surface by the contact pressure unit:
- the laser diode array directly irradiates the heating surface of the strip and/or the heating surface of the molded body or the reinforcing structure;
- and
- the laser diodes of the laser diode array are configured as surface emitters.
A method for producing a reinforcing structure, which comprises a fiber-reinforced strip including a thermoplastic material, on a molded body surface of a molded body, wherein the method has the following method steps:
- positioning the strip between a contact pressure unit and the molded body surface such that a contact pressure region of the strip is in contact with the contact pressure unit and the molded body surface,
- subjecting the contact pressure unit to a force in a direction of the molded body surface, such that the strip is pressed onto the molded body surface;
- moving and/or rotating the molded body relative to the contact pressure unit such that the molded body and the contact pressure unit perform a relative movement and/or a relative rotation with respect to one another, whereby the strip is applied to the molded body surface, wherein the contact pressure unit moves in a direction of relative motion (R1) with respect to the molded body surface, and the strip is pulled in a pulling direction (R2) in relation to the contact pressure unit;
- irradiating, directly and without intermediary, a heating surface of the strip ahead of the contact pressure region of the strip in the pulling direction (R2), and/or irradiating a heating surface of the molded body after the contact pressure region in the direction of relative motion (R1), by a multiplicity of laser diodes of a laser diode array;
- and
- locally melting the strip in the region of the heating surface thereof and/or the molded body surface in the region of the heating surface thereof by the laser diode array, such that the strip is joined to the molded body by pressing the strip onto the molded body surface by the contact pressure unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.